COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

QUESTION NO.7

QUESTION: Councillor R. McMahon

"To ask the Chief Executive for a report on Bohernabreena Cemetery regarding the following - Total Graves/Plots - Total Graves not yet opened. Please break the figures down between the old part of the cemetery and the new. Also how many plots have been booked/sold in the Old Cemetery which have not been opened and what is the legal position on these.  Also based on the available plots left, how many years/months is left before these are all taken?"

REPLY:

Bohernabreena Cemetery (St. Joseph’s) was established in 1943 and is the largest Cemetery under the control of South Dublin County Council. On average 365 burials of all and no denomination take place in this Cemetery annually, with approx 210 involving the re-opening of an existing plot. (Based on figures from 2008 – 2015)

There are Angels Plots and a Lawn Cemetery along with the more traditional kerbed Cemetery Layout.

This Cemetery also has two vehicular entrances, a pedestrian entrance, two car parks laid out in hardcore, a network of concrete roads throughout, a toilet block, several waste disposal bunkers, a small storage building, a storage container, and an undeveloped section to provide for future needs.

There are approximately 2,000 grave spaces available to purchase in Bohernabreena. However it should be noted that the Council is currently undertaking a project to transfer all manual data held in respect of each burial ground (that is under the control of the Council),currently in "Purchase Books". While Bohernabreena Cemetery details are at present being transferred onto a database, it is estimated that this work will not be completed until Q3 / 2017.  Until such time as this project has been completed, an accurate outline of data is not readily available.

Presold burial plots, which have not yet used remain in the ownership of the purchaser and the Council has no legal recourse in this matter. However, grave spaces cannot now be purchased in advance, and can only be purchased at the time of death.