It’s feared new Clare burial ground rules will be exploited by rogue sculptors and bogus traders.
Following a review of service costs last year, the local authority has introduced a €100 headstone application fee.
The changes aren’t just limited to monument works, with Clare County Council also changing burial plot rates and columbarium fees.
The local authority also issued a correspondence to sculptors in late January, not outlining a new policy, but aiming to clamp down on bye-laws that are already in place.
However the administration involved is proving to be a point of concern for local traders, given that permission will be sought for any renovations carried out to an existing burial plot, with sculptors required to inform the council three days in advance of when they intend to do the work.
Ennistymon Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane Talty, who’s called for the clarification to be rescinded, believes it could open the door to rogue traders.
A prominent Clare Headstone Provider, meanwhile, is demanding that the unworkable elements of the burial ground policy are scrapped.
Kilnamona based Sculptor Michael McTigue believes the enforcement would seriously reduce the number of new headstones installed across the county.
You can listen to the full interview below.
Statement from Clare County Council
Clare County Council is committed to the respectful, safe, and sustainable management of burial grounds for all families, and to applying its bye-laws and procedures in a fair and consistent manner.
Clare County Council now applies a single, countywide schedule of burial plot charges and monument works fees. These charges are set annually by the Council as part of the local authority’s budgetary process and are used solely to support the ongoing operation, maintenance, and safety management of burial grounds throughout the county. This is the first increase in burial plot charges since 2009. Burial plot charges in a number of other local authority areas remain substantially higher, for example in Limerick, fees are €1,500 for a single plot, with double and family plots in the region of €2,400–€3,000, with memorial application fees set at €150.
The recent clarification issued to memorial contractors restated existing obligations as set out in the Burial Ground Bye-Laws 2015 and emphasised the need for consistent adherence to safety, heritage, and structural standards across all sites. We will shortly be holding a workshop open to all memorial contractors to clarify any queries they may have.