There are just over 35,600 graves available within Kerry County Council managed cemeteries.
That’s according to figures provided by the council at the recent full monthly meeting, in response to a motion from Cllr Maura Healy-Rae.
The independent councillor sought an update on grave capacity levels across Kerry and asked for action to be taken to address low-capacity levels in some burial grounds.
The council advised it manages and maintains 158 burial grounds countywide and undertook a complete report last year to ascertain the remaining capacity at each graveyard.
It stated any burial ground with less than 10 years capacity remaining is examined for potential development or expansion.
The figures show there were 35,695 available graves in its charge, including those developed as of January 31st this year.
The availability ranges from over 2,000 at Killarney burial grounds and the old Rath Cemetery, Tralee to less than 40 graves at Causeway Burial Ground (34), Kilconly Cemetery (25), and Killiney Cemetery Castlegregory (39).
Meanwhile, the report shows there are 85 available spaces within both Rathass and Killarney Columbarium Walls.
Cllr Maura Healy-Rae highlighted concerns at the Gneeveguilla graveyard and asked the council to take in charge more cemeteries in the county.
The council responded that Gneeveguilla graveyard is owned by the Catholic Church, however, it will pursue an extension to the cemetery.
The motion was seconded by Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae who urged for action, stating the expansion of Beaufort cemetery went on for a decade and was a double plot away from people being buried in the next parish.
Sinn Féin councillor Deirdre Ferris stated the council is leaving potential expansions far too late and action should be taken when a graveyard is at half capacity.
She urged for a policy to be developed to identify and provide future plots.
