Written answers
Tuesday, 28 May 2024
Department of Rural and Community Development
Planning Issues
Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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506. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development given the Department's position that there are no current plans to reform legislation regarding burial grounds due to other priorities, to provide detailed information on any public health incidents reported in the last five years that were directly related to burial ground practices; how these incidents were addressed under the existing legislative framework; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23962/24]
Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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507. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to detail what comprehensive environmental impact assessments have been conducted concerning burial ground practices across the country, especially in relation to groundwater contamination from embalming chemicals and other pollutants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23963/24]
Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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508. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development how Ireland's current legislative framework for managing burial grounds align with European Union standards for environmental protection and public health, and what risks are posed by non-compliance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23964/24]
Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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509. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development what financial and legal risks her Department acknowledges exist due to outdated burial ground legislation, and how she plans to mitigate these risks in the absence of legislative reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23965/24]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 506 to 509, inclusive, together.
My Department has legislative responsibility for local authority burial grounds, however the actual operation of burial grounds (cemeteries) is the responsibility of the local authorities.
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 areas.
As this is therefore a matter for local authorities, I can confirm that no information on any public health incidents have been reported to my Department in the last five years. Similarly, as local authorities are responsible for burial grounds, my Department has no responsibility for environmental assessments of burial grounds.
Regulations are currently in place regarding burials and burial grounds, namely Part III of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, as amended in Part VI of the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act, 1948 and more recently, the Local Government Acts, 1994 and 2001, and also in the Rules and Regulations for the Regulation of Burial Grounds 1888 and amendments thereto.
As previously stated, there are currently no plans to introduce new regulations in this area.
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