Tipperary Councillors were very supportive of a motion from all 9 members of the Nenagh Borough Council at today’s plenary meeting calling for an increase to €1,000 in the annual grant scheme for Burial Ground Committees.
The committees and volunteers who help to maintain an estimated 240 burial grounds around the county were praised for their efforts as graveyard maintenance is very important for family members with loved ones buried in the graveyard in addition to helping protect local heritage.
Some Councillors pointed out that in some areas committees were finding it difficult to recruit volunteers and that the maintenance of all graveyards was not something the Council could afford to do itself.
Independent Councillor Michael O’Meara suggested the improved grant would cost a total of €72,000 per annum.
However Mark Connolly, Director of Services for Finance, revealed that initial calculations by staff in the Environment Section suggest the cost would be approximately €110,000 per annum.
The proposal is now approved in principle with the funding to be approved in the next Council Budget at November’s Budget Meeting.
Cllr Willie Kennedy suggested that committees be asked to submit receipts to claim the grant as some committees were more active than others.
