The closure of a Dublin West drug treatment service has been labelled "counterproductive" by a Fianna Fáil TD.

The Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for National Drugs Strategy, Jack Chambers said the decision to close services in the Blanchardstown based treatment service; Adapt is counterproductive to the broader strategy of tackling drug use.

The project which provides outreach and drop-in services is set to close this summer after operating in the community for nearly twenty years.

Mr Chambers said: "The number of people seeking treatment for problem drug use has been steadily on the rise in recent years.

"This is likely to be as a consequence of the increased use of recreational drugs, which has in turn led to some people developing addictions to certain substances.

"The decision to wind down this local project is a major setback for the development of co-ordinated, community led drug services in Dublin West."

He finished by saying "The priority should remain on establishing more long term solutions that will reach everyone suffering from a life-controlling addiction. "

Supervised injecting centre

Earlier this year legalisation passed in the Dail and the Seaned for the opening of a supervised injecting centre in Dublin. 

The Minister for Health Simon Harris called the legislation a "progressive step founded on a health-led, evidence-based approach to drug use."

Meanwhile, The Department of Health described the future facility as a "controlled environment where drug users may self-administer, by injection, drugs they have brought with them."