A Dublin city councillor has said it is a "real shame" that the council is considering closing a laneway in the city centre to the public due to issues in the Abbey Street area.
In a statement, Dublin City Council said that a request to "extinguish the right of way" at Harbour Court was submitted by properties on the laneway.
The statement added that this is a statutory process and was initiated at the Central Area Committee at its July meeting.
The procedure will involve advertising the plan to close off public access, the council said, adding that people can submit objections or representations, which will be considered.
The council adds that the "extinguishment of a public right of way is a function reserved to the elected members of the city council".
Green Party's Janet Horner said Harbour Court’s closure should be a last resort.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Ms Horner that a number of anti-social activities - including drug use and violence - are taking place in the laneway, meaning that it is not being used as it should be.
"It means that it is not used for what it could and should be used for, which is a handy cut-through route for people coming from Abbey Street through to the quays," she said.
"Or a pleasant place to walk at the moment is just not been used for best possible purpose.
"So that's why it has been proposed to be closed off.
"It also it is a real pity, because it is a real shame that we have not properly dealt with the problems in the abbey Street area," Ms Horner added.
There needs to be changes in the city centre to help people with drug addictions, the councillor added.
There are things within the council's remit that could improve the situation, she added, including supervised injection centres and better toilet facilities.
Ms Horner said she understood why the council is considering the move to close off Harbour Court, but she added that closing off areas does not resolve the issues, but makes the inner city less accessible.
