I propose to take Questions Nos. 332, 333, 334, 335 and 336 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.
Local authorities also have powers to make bye-laws in relation to burial grounds. They may appoint a registrar or caretaker for each of their burial grounds to manage the site, and in some cases to maintain the burial ground.
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.
Having regard to other priorities and the broader range of legislative priorities to be progressed across my Department's remit, there are currently no plans to introduce new regulations in this area.