The council said the proposed facility would be bad for tourism and the local area, TheJournal.ie reports.

Injection facilities, also called drug consumption rooms or safe injection sites, have been implemented as a harm reduction measure in more than 70 cities across the world.

Instead of discouraging users from taking drugs, the facilities are intended to reduce the chance of overdose or other negative health effects such as HIV transmission, while also tackling public injecting.

The Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Act 2017 established a legal framework in Ireland for the licensing and regulation of such facilities, but to date none have been established.

Charity Merchant’s Quay Ireland (MQI) applied last year to establish a facility based in its Riverbank Centre on Merchant’s Quay, but the proposals were opposed by local businesses, residents and schools.

Responding to the decision, MQI CEO Paula Byrne said: “This decision by Dublin City Council is deeply disappointing. With one person a day in Ireland dying of a drug overdose, it will put vulnerable lives at greater risk.

“In 2016, 736 people in Ireland died from drug-related causes, the fourth highest rate in Europe, and every indicator suggests that this number is increasing.

“International evidence clearly demonstrates that supervised injecting facilities reduce public injecting, reduce risk of disease transmission, and most importantly, save lives.

“We will review Dublin City Council’s decision and consider our next steps. In the meantime, we will continue to advocate for people in addiction, to ensure that they receive the care they deserve.”