DUN Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has been urged to reverse new increases in burial charges at their cemeteries.
Charges have risen at Deansgrange and Shanganagh cemeteries where grave plots already cost
?¬16,000 and
?¬2,700 respectively.
In a report to councillors at a recent monthly meeting, County Manager Owen Keegan said that from May 1 there would be an increase in some cemetery charges, as approved in the council’s budget for this year.
“The main reason for some of the increases is to allow for the application of VAT imposed on local authority services by the Revenue Commissioners,
? he said.
Under the new increases the burial charge for an adult at both cemeteries has been increased from
?¬765 to
?¬940 and the burial charge for a child has been increased from
?¬385 to
?¬473.
The
“Ashes and Organs
? interment charge has also been increased, from
?¬385 to
?¬473.
The price for a standard plot in Shanganagh has been increased from
?¬2,700 to
?¬2,900 while charges for cremation plots at the cemetery increased from
?¬700 to
?¬800.
In addition, the council has introduced a new
“Annual Stonemason’s Permit Fee
? of
?¬1,230.
A spokesperson for the council clarified that only stonemasons would be liable for the fee and this would enable them to practice within the council run graveyards.
Meanwhile, charges for new plots in Deansgrange Cemetery have remained unchanged at
?¬16,000.
Cllr Victor Boyhan (Ind) called on the council not to pass on the additional VAT charges to those who wish to bury their loved ones.
“At
?¬16,000 for a new plot in Deansgrange Cemetery, it must be the most expensive real estate in the country,
? he said.
“Cemetery charges are too high.
“Cemetery fees are now a cause of concern and great distress to some families. Some of the council’s fees need to be reviewed.
?
The spokesperson for the council said that since July 2010, when the Revenue Commissioners imposed VAT on local authority charges, the council had
“absorbed
? this cost into existing cemetery fees.
The spokesperson said the council was continuing to absorb the VAT in relation to a number of charges associated with burials, including foundation and maintenance charges, which have also remained unchanged.
“However, interment charges are only now being increased to take account of 23 per cent VAT, as recently adopted by the elected members in the 2012 council budget,
? the spokesperson added.
The local authority said that until very recently, no new plots were available for sale at Deansgrange that opened in 1865.
As a consequence of this, the council did not have any funding to undertake various site improvement projects.
“In order to address this situation a decision was made to redevelop the garden adjacent to the lodge for burials and a price of
?¬16,000 per burial plot was set,
? the spokesperson continued.
“The price of
?¬16,000 per grave is not out of line with the prices charged in some other long established cemeteries.
?