COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF ANNUAL BUDGET MEETING

Monday, December 17, 2012

QUESTION NO. 14

QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

E09 What was the cost of maintenance of Burial Grounds in 2010, 2009, and 2008? Are there some Graveyards in the County realizing a lower income than others?  If yes, which?  

REPLY:

The expenditure and income profile of the burial grounds service for the period 2008 to 2013 is shown below:

E09 Burial Grounds 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Revised 2013 Proposed
Expenditure 1,916,583 1,454,918 1,297,561 1,372,805 1,668,800 1,646,500
Income 589,298 636,550 544,105 631,486 817,900 1,057,200
Deficit 1,327,286 818,368 753,456 741,320 850,900 589,300

As can be seen this service operates at a significant loss despite recent and proposed price increases. It should be noted that the additional expenditure shown arises from additional staff time being available to the Service since the termination of the Refuse Collection Service and additional Insurance provisions.

The number of burials and advance purchases in each of the Council's cemeteries in recent years is shown below:

Burials 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total
Bohernabreena 381 369 357 372 351 1,830
Cruagh       1 2 3
Esker 158 191 181 183 159 872
Lucan   1       1
Newcastle 69 62 57 70 58 316
Saggart 18 19 23 21 31 112
Templeogue     1 3 2 6
Total 626 642 619 650 603 3,140
Advance Purchases 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total
Bohernabreena 7 9 7 12 19 54
Esker 26 39 42 41 25 173
Newcastle 7 10 8 10 13 48
Saggart 5 8 12 17 13 55
Total 45 66 69 80 70 330

The assessment of the Service carried out by the Internal Audit team dealt with the level of charge applied and recommendations on prices charged having regard for both public and private sector charges in place elsewhere.