Written answer
Burial Grounds
Burial ground management and capacity are local authority responsibilities; the Department holds no national data, has conducted no assessment, and will not compile it.
4245. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the number of burial grounds operated by each local authority; the estimated remaining capacity in years of burial grounds in each local authority area; the number of new burial grounds or extensions planned or under construction in each local authority area, in tabular form; whether his Department will compile this information from local authorities if it is not held centrally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57405/26]
Comment on this
4246. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether his Department has carried out or commissioned any assessment of burial ground capacity nationally; the funding available to local authorities for the provision or extension of burial grounds; if he is satisfied that local authorities have sufficient resources to meet future demand for burial spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57406/26]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4245 and 4246 together.
My Department has responsibility for policy and legislation in relation to local authority burial grounds while the actual operation of burial grounds is the responsibility of the local authorities.
Under the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts, 1878 to 2001, local authorities are deemed to be burial boards for their respective functional areas. Acting in their capacity as burial boards, local authorities are responsible for the management, regulation and control of burial grounds in their functional areas.
My Department has not carried out or commissioned any assessment of either burial ground capacity nationally, or of the funding available to local authorities for the provision or extension of burial grounds. Capacity and plot availability to meet future demand for burial spaces within burial grounds are an operational matter for each local authority.
My Department does not hold information on the number of burial grounds operated by each local authority; the estimated remaining capacity in years of burial grounds in each local authority area; the number of new burial grounds or extensions planned or under construction in each local authority area and has no plans to compile this information.