COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, January 11, 2010

MOTION NO. 6

MOTION: Councillor C. Brophy

That this Council asks the Manager to introduce a minimum of 4 grass cuttings in every graveyard in the County during the grass growing season.  The current situation of one cutting per year has resulted in graveyards being inaccessible, particularly to senior citizens, and is causing emotional distress to families who have loved ones buried in these graveyards.

REPORT:

South Dublin County Council strives to maintain 15 burial grounds to a high standard, however, a more limited resource has resulted in a more limited maintenance programme.  

In previous years South Dublin County Council employed a number of temporary staff to assist in the maintenance of the Council’s Burial Grounds during the summer months.  Temporary staff  cut grass, remove weeds and tidy up neglected plots in each of the cemeteries throughout the county.  It has not been possible to recruit any temporary staff this year as a result of the embargo on recruitment of staff.   In addition budget constraints have required that the Council greatly reduce overtime across all departments, and this in turn has led to a reduction in the level of maintenance work carried out in the graveyards maintained by this Council.  

South Dublin County Council has not, therefore, been able to implement the same maintenance schedules that have been in place over the last number of years.   To ensure a maintenance service across all burial grounds the maintenance work has been scheduled to reflect the annual grave yard masses.  This is considered to be the most equitable mechanism for the maintenance work and schedules will continue to be planned in this way.

Suggestions have been made by Members regarding the involvement of families and residents in the management of burial grounds and any proposals based on these suggestions will be considered by the Council. Such proposal, once the practical application is considered, would be discussed with staff, their Unions and with the Strategic Policy Committee.