Minister insists Stardust public hearings will begin in April

The Justice Minister insists funding will not be an impediment to the hearings - but the timeline has been described as 'delusional' by a solicitor representing 46 victims.

Forty-eight people died and more than 200 were injured when the blaze broke out in the Stardust nightclub in Artane on St Valentine's night in 1981. File photo: Karen Morgan

The Minister of Justice believes the Stardust inquest will begin for public hearings in April.

Helen McEntee says her officials are working to address issues over funding for families' legal teams, which has stalled the inquest into Ireland's biggest fire disaster after a continual delay in funding reaching counsel means they cannot instruct other staff.