In the week leading up to the 25th anniversary of the Stardust disaster, I wish to ask the Taoiseach a few questions. More than 800 young people attended that disco on the eve of St. Valentine's Day 1981. By the end of the night, 48 were dead and hundreds more injured. There are unresolved issues following the inquiry which sat for 122 days but left so many questions unanswered. It is now clear the inquiry did not go far enough and there are many questions which the Taoiseach might begin to answer if he were to focus on the issues. Despite numerous inspections of the Stardust building by Dublin Corporation, the owners were able to get away with repeated breaches of fire regulations and building by-laws. The question many ask is why so many patrons were prevented from escaping because of locked or chained fire exits.

Fianna Fáil was in power at the time and many of the Stardust victims feel they were badly let down. Many of the relatives are still grieving for many reasons. They did not receive any counselling, while medical cards were given and withdrawn even before the injured could return to work. The tribunal claimed the cause of the fire was probably arson, yet the Garda report disputes this. Victims lodged 245 writs but the only one to come to court was made by the Stardust manager. State compensation was paid on condition that no further claims would be lodged, and the biggest beneficiary was the Stardust management.

Many of the relatives would like an answer to a basic question. After 25 years, will the Taoiseach meet them at least to hear what they have to say and perhaps address some of the issues which arise if we are to prevent another Stardust tragedy?

The Deputy's time is concluded.

I will not take up the same amount of time taken by the other party leaders. In 1985, 11 ambulances were available to Dublin fire brigade to answer 26,000 emergency calls. In 2005, 68,500 emergency calls were made, nearly a trebling of such calls since 1985, but the number of ambulances remains at 11. After the Stardust tragedy, seven fire prevention officer posts were created by Dublin Corporation for the whole of Dublin city and county. Today, that number remains at seven despite the expansion of Dublin city and its council with all the new hotels, tax breaks notwithstanding, and many more concert venues and pubs on the outskirts and suburbs of Dublin. Does a cold shiver run up the Taoiseach's spine with the thought that another Stardust could happen? The way the figures look, that is very possible. Will the Taoiseach meet the relatives of the victims? Will he double the Dublin fire brigade ambulance numbers and at least double the district office fire prevention posts?

The anniversary of that tragic night is a week away and the thoughts of all are with the families of those killed or injured in the Stardust tragedy. As we approach the 25th anniversary of a terrible night, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform understands the families' concerns regarding the background, and his Department has been working with and assisting the families in a number of ways. The Government is prepared to continue that help. Officials in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform recently met representatives of the Stardust victims committee, one of a series of meetings held with that committee.

The committee also forwarded a report prepared on its behalf to the Garda Commissioner and the Garda forensic science laboratory. I know the Commissioner and the laboratory responded that the report contained no new evidence. I can confirm to the House that the Garda concluded that no new evidence was forthcoming which would warrant it revisiting the investigation and it was considered that all the matters raised were adequately addressed at the time. I understand this information was given to the Stardust victims committee. Any further submissions the committee might wish to make will be carefully examined by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The Deputy mentioned counselling and other issues. I understand they are being dealt with on an ongoing basis. Parliamentary questions have been asked but there is no need to go through them. Obviously, since the Stardust tragedy — as we have seen internationally — there have been two not unrelated issues. It is always a concern that these kinds of events and tragedies like them can happen in different ways. Most of the recommendations following the Stardust tragedy — I am reading from a note from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government — go through all of the areas, such as investment, infrastructure, equipment, better training and communications, legislation and other issues. The facts about what happened are there.

I do not want to mix the two issues. It is a particularly difficult time for the families. I have received communications from some members of the groups while other members take different views. However, they are communicating with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I do not want to read off a list of the significant amount of investment in staff, fire and ambulance services in respect of these issues.

Is it true?

It is not what the individuals want to hear during this week. It is a remembrance of the tragedies of the night. The evidence of what has happened was found in the intervening period. However, it has been a long period and the service is entirely different and invested in now. The Government will continue to keep in touch with the families as is necessary.

I assure the Taoiseach that he is not mixing two issues. The relatives certainly want to know whether lessons have been learned.

The Taoiseach spoke about other countries and their tragedies but it is painful to realise that Ireland has the highest rate of fire accidents in the EU and one of the worst in the world. Ireland has 58 fire related deaths on average per year. The United Kingdom spends twice as much per capita in this area, as this country. We have not learned the lessons.

Notwithstanding all of the Taoiseach's talk about reform and change, there has been change. We have dozens more pubs, more concert venues, bigger stadia and more hotels but for this city and county on any typical night we only have one fire prevention officer on the north side of the Liffey river and one on the south side.

The Deputy's time has concluded.

I have not concluded on this matter. The Ceann Comhairle must allow me one last question.

This situation has gone from bad to worse since the Stardust disaster. It seems that lessons have not been learned. The Taoiseach talks about everything being fine; it is not fine. The Dublin fire brigade service had 11 ambulances then and has 11 ambulances now. Basically, there is one person per ambulance, meaning that, if there were to be any disaster with more than 11 people involved, the rest would be left on the side of the road to get taxis or anything else they could manage to reach a hospital.

The situation is dire. The current Government — Fianna Fáil was in Government then — should certainly learn the lessons. I ask that the Taoiseach address the issue. He should meet the relations and double the number of ambulances and fire prevention officers. Anything else is irresponsible.

Hear, hear.

I remember well the night of the Stardust disaster and the issues surrounding it. As the Deputy knows, it was not a matter of ambulances. It was one of the best co-ordinated efforts by the emergency services of this city and one of the best ever seen.

The Taoiseach is wrong.

The fire service's ambulance service has radically changed. There have been massive improvements and significant additions to the fire service, such as fire appliances, emergency service rescue equipment. There have been improvements in the number of personnel involved and the level of training and the number of facilities in Marino, Athlone, Bray, Clonmel and some of the other parts of the country. All of the figures are in the public domain

This is not to say, as the Deputy believes I am saying, that everything is fine and there are no problems. When dealing with tragedies and fires and in spite of the fact that the Stardust changed the attitudes in this country totally in terms of regulations, planning permission, new buildings and inspections, it is an entirely different position now than it was then but it does not mean——

We have the same number of inspectors.

——that people can ever stop. There are 3,400 fire service personnel in the country compared to quite small numbers in many areas then. Premises are being inspected. The new Building Control Bill 2005 deals with a significant number of issues. I reiterate that the Government is very sensitive to the families.

It always has been and has always dealt with them. It will continue to do so. They are actively engaged in meetings with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Totally misleading.