WHILE protests rage around the rest of the country about water charges for the living, people in Limerick are facing other charges – even after they die.
The latest tax is one imposed for people being late for their own funerals.
Limerick city and county council is the controlling authority for Mount St Laurence and Mount St Oliver cemeteries.
A reader who contacted the Limerick Post recently said that, after attending a neighbour’s funeral, she was astounded to learn that because the funeral was delayed, the council was adding €400 to the bill.
“I couldn’t believe it. They were a about twenty minutes late arriving at the graveyard. A week or so later, I was talking to one of the family and they told me they would be charged extra because they were late.
“Not only are they taxing us while we’re alive, now people are being charged even when they’re dead,” she said.
Administrative Officer Mairead O’Donovan confirmed that the charge, which can go up to €800 in some circumstances, is paid to the local authority and not to the gravediggers or the undertakers.
“It’s been in place for some time now, All the funeral directors are aware of it.
“There is a bit of flexibility, there’s allowance for a few minutes. Before the charge came in a lot of funerals were arriving late”, she explained.
