Public Health (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1879

Burial of persons whose relatives cannot be required to provide for their interment.

4. In addition to any powers vested at the time of the passing of this Act in the guardians of the poor of any union for providing for the burial of the bodies of persons unknown, and for supplying coffins and shrouds in certain cases, and otherwise in relation to burials, it shall be lawful for the guardians of the poor of any union, or in case of urgency for the relieving officer, in cases where the relatives of any person dying within the union are not known, or by reason of their absence, or poverty, or otherwise, are unable to provide for the burial of such deceased person, to defray all necessary and proper expenses incurred in the burial of such deceased person, subject to any rules which the Local Government Board for Ireland may make in that behalf; and the expenses incurred by the guardians under this section shall be charged on the rates of the union in like manner as the said deceased person would have been chargeable if he had been in receipt of relief at the time of his death, or on such other fund at the disposal of the guardians as the Local Government Board shall prescribe.