Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has welcomed the decision to allow stonemasons to work in our graveyards and cemeteries after weeks of confusion on whether this work could go ahead, causing further pain to the bereaved at this difficult time.

Teachta Crowe said:

“I welcome the decision that emerged last night to deem stonemasons’ work in graveyards and cemeteries as essential work, allowing it to go ahead despite the ongoing lockdown.

“In the absence of any clear guidelines from Government, some local authorities were permitting stonemasons to work in our graveyards and cemeteries to erect permanent headstones and other memorial works to recently departed loved ones

“I feel that this approach was only serving to compound the grief of those who have lost loved ones in these difficult times by denying some and not others, the right to erect a permanent memorial to those who have passed.

“I had written to the Ministers for Health and Local Government asking them to issue guidance to officially permit this work to resume so that we could lessen the pain of the bereaved in whatever small ways we can and I am very glad that this narrow and cruel approach regarding headstones has been resolved.

“I understand that Stonemasons and memorial works in the South Dublin County Council area have been written to in the last 24 hours informing them of this new interpretation and decision.”