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SEVERAL THOUSAND FAMILIES every year are applying for a special grant to help them afford to bury their loved ones.
New figures from the Department of Social Protection show more than €5 million is being paid out every year to help cover funeral and burial expenses. The average payout is around €1,300, having dropped slightly on previous years.
The funeral payment is made as a one-off ‘exceptional needs payment’ which people would not be able to afford on their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to the payment and the decision is made by the officer who administers the scheme.
The St Vincent de Paul Society and other groups working with people on low incomes have frequently criticised the opaque nature of funeral costs in Ireland and the difficulty in comparing prices during a difficult time for families. The average cost of funerals is estimated at between €3,000 and €5,000, but can rise to closer to €10,000 – especially in Dublin – when all costs are taken into account.
In response to a question raised by Willie O’Dea TD, Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said that almost 4,000 payments were made in 2011 and 2012. A total of 1,810 payments have been made in the first six months of this year so far, which is on track to match the figures from the previous two years.
The Minister refused to rule in or out any plans to cut the grant in the upcoming Budget 2014. “With regard to my future plans for these payments, any changes to the scheme will be considered in a budgetary context,” she said.
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I was at it and it was spectacular
Amazing how everyone shuts up about hating Bono and about tax affairs whenever there’s tickets to be had for anU2 gig in Croker…
By many accounts seemed to have been a somewhat tired performance compared to previous.
@Toon Army:
Depends who you ask. For many it was their best performance on home turf in a long time
@Toon Army:
Obviously you weren’t there. It was a great gig
@Toon Army:
I’ve seen them 13 times live and this was indeed their weakest performance that I’ve seen. Bono was off his game and it was a stark contrast to their recent performances in the Point where they were simply incredible. Still Saturday was a great show and the crowd loved it.
@Nick Allen: of the 4 people I have spoken to about it, 3 say bad and 1 says good. (I’m on the bad side)
The journal should do a poll on it !
@Cicero: It was average at best. Felt they were just going through the motions
Was at it and thought it was a poor concert compared to previous U2 concerts…..especially the one in the 3 arena. With 20mins to go there was a steady stream of people leaving which speaks volumes. Agree with a previous poster that it was a tired performance from Bono
Pity the other 3 never address the fans….
@Ken Pepper: I’m struggling to think of any band where anyone but the lead singer/frontman addresses the croud.
There are plenty where they do solos but almost never actually speak to the croud.
I was there, it was a brilliant gig.
Homecoming gig? We’re U2 living permanently abroad?
I was there and can confirm lots of people leaving early.
I was one of them, the sound so poor at Lower Cusack where I was that I couldn’t even make out what Bono was saying between songs let alone when he was singing.
Ironically his voice was at its best in the toilets behind my seating area.
Won’t go to Croke park unless I have pitch tickets where I believe it was OK.
Can’t believe he STILL hasn’t found what he’s looking for.. Maybe it’s behind him.
That was the worst attempt at a heart I’ve ever seen. Looked like a box
have your say