Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the progress made on the establishment of a committee to monitor the progress of the victims of the Stardust fire disaster and to ensure that counselling and medical treatment where necessary and appropriate are afforded to the survivors and the bereaved at the expense of the State as recommended by the Coffey report on the matter. [6106/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Following the recommendation made by Mr. Paul Coffey, SC in this regard, consultation took place with the Victims Committee's legal advisor with a view to identifying the level of demand for access to ongoing counselling and medical services. As this process failed to gather sufficient information to allow arrangements to be made, and so as not to interfere in the privacy of any of the survivors or bereaved, a public information notice was placed in newspapers asking those who wished to access such services through this channel to register their interest.

Arrangements to provide these services were put in place in February 2010, based on the response received. These arrangements involve a leading independent provider of counselling services and all personal details are being treated in the strictest confidence. Insofar as the monitoring of these arrangements is concerned, for the present this is being carried out by my Department in conjunction with the Department of An Taoiseach and with the expert advice of the Health Service Executive. This monitoring is restricted to the extent required to manage the provision of services.