Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil is opposed to the Bill. Establishing an additional quango while local authorities already have the capacity to undertake this role is a duplication of scarce resources. However, the proposals hit upon important issues in managing burial grounds and ensuring adequate space is provided for them. The high costs of funerals place pressure on families at a deeply sensitive time. The Government's heartless decision to remove the bereavement grant has made this even worse. Local authorities taking the lead in reducing burial plot costs is an important step in driving down the price of funerals.

The creation of a new quango in the shape of a cemetery regulator is an unnecessary additional expense to the consumer and taxpayer. This work should be given to local authorities who have on the ground knowledge and are adequately placed to carry out the duties included in the Bill. The core aim that must underpin end-of-life management, including cemetery oversight, is the right to a dignified burial. End-of-life management is a costly industry in Ireland. Approximately 30,000 people pass away each year in Ireland with approximately 3,000 being cremated. This means 27,000 are buried in cemeteries.

Burial plots in Ireland are very expensive. The average cost in the State is approximately €1,100, with an additional administrative fee of €120. There is a wide disparity of prices throughout the country, with a plot in Glasnevin costing up to €20,000 for a premium space and a local authority plot in Offaly costing €400. Despite the significant expense involved, the Government ruthlessly scrapped the €850 bereavement grant payment that alleviated the financial pressure of funerals on vulnerable families. There is significant pressure in urban areas with regard to acquiring suitable additional land for burial. Local authorities are in charge of cemetery oversight and have to identify and negotiate land purchases for future burials.

Fianna Fáil welcomes the opportunity to discuss this issue, which ultimately affects all citizens in the State. Cemeteries are an important part of the local infrastructure that require management and supervision to ensure a dignified burial for all citizens who chose this option. The proposal for a new regulator is an overly bureaucratic response to the problems involved. Establishing a new quango amid the Government's broken promises on its so called quango cull is an unnecessary expense to the taxpayer and consumer. The Government has steadily eroded the powers of local authorities in its local government reform agenda. Its needs to give local authorities responsibility over local issues that are best suited to their on-the-ground knowledge. Cemetery supervision should remain as part of the local government remit, and licensing of cemetery operations by other bodies should be included in its powers and responsibilities. This would help encourage competition while keeping down costs to the taxpayer and avoiding further fees being levied on the families of the bereaved.

Local authorities have to take the lead in identifying suitable graveyard sites for future burials. This is particularly acute in urban areas where scarcity of land is driving up plot costs. Establishing a regulator detracts from the responsibility of the local authority in ensuring there is sufficient land provision. The promotion of competition in the sector is a welcome step that will help drive down the escalating costs of funerals and help make passing a more manageable process for the bereaved.

Funeral costs in Ireland have risen over recent years, with the average price in the country approximately €3,000 to €5,000, but this can rise to up to €10,000 in Dublin. The significant rise in costs associated with funerals and burials has put major pressure on vulnerable families at a deeply sensitive time. The Government's heartless decision to abolish the bereavement grant exacerbated the pressure faced by families. The bereavement grant of €850 was paid to an average of 22,000 families per annum who were eligible for help to deal with funeral expenses. The Government is now chasing the elderly with cuts all the way to the grave. This final cut in budget 2014 was the deepest for bereaved families. The bereavement grant was paid to people who made PRSI contributions over their working life and was vital to help ease the burden of a close family member passing on. This modest grant gave many families peace of mind and was a welcome respite at a time of grief and stress.

By abolishing it, the Government again demonstrated its ability to measure the cost of everything and the value of nothing.

One of the major drivers of the cost increase is scarce burial grounds. This has also encouraged the ever-increasing switch to cremation as a form of final rest. Increasing competition in the provision of burial grounds will help address this problem with new operators coming on stream in providing and maintaining cemeteries. This should be conducted under the auspices of the local authorities' planning powers and overall responsibility for cemetery management. The hidden expenses of funerals demand a response led by local authorities in addressing burial space issues and the re-introduction of the bereavement grant by the Government to families who need targeted support to help in distressful situations.

Ultimately, the underlying goals behind policies toward cemeteries and end-of-life issues are simple. They should enable people to celebrate and commemorate the lives of the departed loved ones in a respectful and meaningful way. Reasonable costs, suitable space and appropriate location are a key part of that. Proper planning, fair competition and adequate land will help to enable this and ensure the protection of people's right to a dignified departure from the world.

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