Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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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 area.

While my Department does not provide direct funding or grant assistance for the normal provision and maintenance of burial grounds, it does provide a range of supports to communities nationwide, helping people to participate in the development of their communities and providing funding to improve community facilities. For example, my Department funds the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) which provides grants that may be relevant.

The CEP provided capital grants to the total value of €4.5m in 2019. Typical projects funded under this programme can include the renovation of community centres, community amenities, improvements to town parks, common areas and spaces, CCTV equipment and energy efficiency-type projects. The CEP is administered by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in each Local Authority area.

My Department is considering the appropriate approach for many of its programmes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 Community Enhancement Programme is also being considered in that context.