Kildare County Council Cemetery Charges May Be Reviewed.

KCC charges from €1,100 for a single plot and from €2,160 for double plots

Its seems probable that burial charges in Kildare may be about to increase - having last been reviewed in 2008/9.

KCC charges from €1,100 for a single plot and from €2,160 for double plots.

Charges are also levied for grave opening, for interment of ashes, and for inscriptions on columbarium walls.

Fine Gael Cllr., Kevin Duffy, in a motion before the full council, asked that it review the fees levied in the context of cemetery operation costs, with regard to charges with other "relevant county councils" across the island of Ireland.

In response, KCC outlined the range of works take on burial grounds.

Cllr. Duffy has been speaking to Kildare Today.

KCC has responsibility for 32 active cemeteries and 33 closed burial grounds.

5 cemeteries, in Athy, Naas, Newbridge, Leixlip and Celbridge have permanent caretakers.

Part-time caretakers work in 27 burial grounds.

Kildare County Council's response, in full:
"By way of background, the current scale of charges was last reviewed in 2008/9. At that time, given a significant need to fund a range of cemetery capital upgrades including extensions, a decision was made to increase the then prevailing charges. Indeed, this proved to be a very progressive decision as, in the interim, a suite of very significant projects was delivered. The following list gives a broad flavour of major works completed in the last 10 years or so in terms of cemetery extensions:
• Newbridge
• Kildangan/Ballybracken
• Monasterevan
• Moone
• Athy
• Castlemitchell
• Staplestown
• Rathangan
• Celbridge
• Derrinturn
• Crookstown
In addition, significant internal capital-type improvements were completed in a number of other cemeteries including the provision of columbarium walls at Laraghbryan (Maynooth) and Naas.

The council’s current capital programme includes proposals for further columbarium walls at a number of cemeteries as well as a number of further significant priorities:
• A new cemetery for Leixlip/Confey
• An extension to Cloncurry cemetery
• Significant internal improvements to St Conleth’s cemetery, Kildare Town
• Upgrade of Newbridge cemetery car park
• Further internal capital-style improvements to Athy
• A new cemetery for Newtown, Kilcock (subject to feasibility)
• Significant internal works to Boycetown, Kilcock
• Provision of additional plots at Barrettstown as well as flood protection measures
In truth, the feasibility of providing extensions can be very costly given the price of acquiring lands in urban areas {Newbridge is a good example}. In addition, the spectrum of construction costs generally has also been escalating. Such costs do not differ unduly between the North and South of the county.

The costs of the above programme are wholly funded from an annual transfer [varies from 150 to 250k] from the proceeds of the sale of plots to the capital account in order to build up a fund. All in all, this approach has served the council well particularly in light of the scale of projects which have been completed. While it is not proposed to increase the price of plots anytime soon, it is strongly recommended that there would be no reductions as such would clearly impinge on the momentum for a very progressive programme of works. These matters can be considered further in the context of the forthcoming budgetary process.
When comparing with other counties, there needs to be regard to the additional costs particularly in relation to land acquisition. In addition, there are also emerging demographic trends wherein there has been a significant requirement for additional facilities in this county. It might also be stated that in counties where lesser charges apply, the cost of capital works will inevitably have to be met from other sources within the budgeting process. Accordingly, care should be taken when making comparisons.

It might also be noted that the price of plots in the Greater Dublin Area is significantly higher than that which applies in County Kildare. Again, the same reasoning applies in relation to relative costs etc. This has also led to applications from citizens of those counties to purchase plots in County Kildare.

Cllr. Duffy joined Clem Ryan on Wednesday's edition of the programme