Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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1135. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status and timelines of the exceptionality phase of the redress scheme for survivors of the Stardust tragedy, as committed to by the Department of the Taoiseach in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11551/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Following engagement with legal representatives of the families of the victims of the Stardust fire, the Government, last August, approved a two-phased approach to redress arrangements.

The first phase focused on the families of the 48 victims who tragically died in the fire and was developed in consultation and agreement with the families' legal representatives. It provided for a single, non-scaled ex gratia payment of €0.5m for each of the 48 people killed, totalling €24 million. I am glad to inform the Deputy that this phase is at an advanced stage of implementation, with most applications under this scheme now completed and payments concluded.

A second exceptionality phase, which is to be examined in respect of survivors, will take into account that compensation awards were made previously by the Stardust Victims’ Compensation Tribunal established in 1985. Officials from my Department have commenced work to develop proposals for this phase.