asked the Minister for the Environment whether it is the Government's intention to introduce a Supplementary Estimate of approximately £200,000 to help defray the immediate expenses of the victims of the Stardust fire disaster.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers - Artane (Dublin) Fire Disaster.
3.
Assistance to help defray immediate expenses of victims of the disaster is being provided through the existing schemes administered by the Department of Social Welfare and the Eastern Health Board. The Minister for Health has indicated that victims will not be liable for any hospital treatment costs where they are not covered by any existing scheme. There are at present no proposals for any assistance additional to that already available or announced.
Will the Minister agree that there are special cases where hardship has resulted because of this disaster and that in the special circumstances of the case we should make some sort of contribution in anticipation of the final decision of the tribunal which will take up to 18 months or two years?
I understand that the Lord Mayor's Artane Disaster Fund has already made a contribution. I understand that approximately £65,000 has been paid out, all funeral expenses have been attended to and as far as hardship cases are concerned they are being looked after. The families of those who died have received £200 per person and £150 per person injured has been given from the fund. The fund stands at £150,000. As well as that, the Government have, through the Department of Social Welfare, three officials of the Department operating on a full-time basis in the area informing people of their entitlements; the Department of Health through the EHB have nurses working in the area with the families and the Government have provided independent solicitors and counsel to act for the next of kin of the victims and for any injured person before the tribunal. The scheme of civil legal aid and advice is also available to people seeking information regarding claims and so on.
If it is found that between now and the findings of the tribunal there are any serious cases of hardship and the Lord Mayor's fund is not able to meet them will the Minister then reconsider his decision not to make a grant in the terms suggested by me? In view of the serious failure of successive Ministers over the years, which led to the Stardust, Bundoran and various other disasters, does the Minister not feel that he has a moral responsibility to make some contribution in the dreadful circumstances of the Stardust disaster?
In relation to the possibility of further assistance, social welfare officers are operating in that area and they are assisting any serious cases of hardship. The Deputy and the House may be assured of the sympathetic approach of the Government to this whole question.
I know that the Minister for the Environment is not directly responsible but perhaps he may be able to help me. In reply to a question the Minister said that some staff from the Department of Social Welfare were permanently assigned for the time being to help the victims and relatives of the Stardust tragedy as were some nurses from the EHB. Do I take it that these people have been transferred from other duties or have they been taken on specially to do the job?
Mr. B. Burke
I do not have that informatin but I assume that they have been diverted from other duties in the EHB and in the Department of Social Welfare.
Question No. 4.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle could I ask ——
No, I am sorry, we have only three questions answered in 20 minutes.
Will the Minister ensure that these people will be replaced or that people who are currently unemployed will be taken on?