Department Of Local Government and Public Health.

SAORSTÁT ÉIREANN. 12/03/1929: BURIAL GROUND REGULATIONS, 1888 - REVOCATION AND SUBSTITUTION OF RULE IV.

WHEREAS in pursuance of section 181 of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, the Local Government Board for Ireland did by instrument under their Seal of Office bearing date the 6th day of July, 1888, make rules and regulations (hereinafter referred to as "the Burial Ground Regulations") in relation to burial grounds provided or which may be provided under the said Act:

AND WHEREAS it seems to me, the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, proper for the protection of public health and the maintenance of public decency to revoke Rule No. IV. which relates to the depth to which graves shall be sunk) of the Burial Ground Regulations and to substitute therefor the rule hereinafter appearing:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, in exercise of the powers vested in me by section 181 of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, and of all statutes in that behalf enabling me, do hereby revoke Rule No. IV. of the Burial Ground Regulations, and do hereby substitute the following rule in the place of the said Rule No. IV. that is to say:—

IV.

(i) Each grave, when opened for the first interment therein, shall be sunk to the perpendicular depth of eight feet at the least, or in case the nature of the sub-soil will not permit of the grave being sunk to such depth, then to such lesser depth as the medical officer of health of the sanitary authority shall certify in writing to be sufficient for the protection of public health, but in such case not more than one interment shall be permitted in such grave without the written authorisation of the medical officer of health of the sanitary authority.

(ii) Every person who shall inter a body in a grave in contravention of the foregoing rule, shall be liable to a penalty of two pounds sterling.

GIVEN under My Official Seal this Twelfth day of March, in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty-nine.

(Signed) RISTEÁRD UA MAOLCHATHA,

Minister for Local Government and Public Health.