Planning permission for Ireland's first ever supervised injection centre has been refused.
Merchants Quay Ireland had applied to run the facility from its building in Dublin city centre.
The council turned down the proposal over concerns it would have a negative impact on tourism in the area.
Planners also referenced an "overconcentration of social support services in the Dublin 8 area".
Merchants Quay Ireland suggested the decision will put "vulnerable lives at greater risk".
CEO Paula Byrne said: “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.”
Local Councillor Cieran Perry, meanwhile, thinks the facility would have just maintained people in addiction.
He said: "We don't believe it's value for money to propose spending €3 million on a facility that will simply maintain people in addiction, as opposed to actually tackling their addiction."
