Graveyard Maintenance Schemes

Graveyard Maintenance Schemes Application Form 2018

Site Name: …………………………………………………………………………………………..
Townland:………………………………………………………. RMP No: KD……………………
Ownership of graveyard: …………………………………………………………………………..
Give details of ownership of graveyard i.e. Representative church body or Kildare County Council
Please include a map indicating the location of the graveyard.
Committee Name:
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Chairperson:…………………………………………………………………………………………
Secretary: ……………………………………………………………………………………………
Contact Address:
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Telephone:…………………………… Email: …………………………………………………….
Please complete if graveyard maintenance is carried out as part of an Employment Scheme
Is this scheme being run as part of or in conjunction with a Rural Social Scheme, Community Employment Scheme or other training/employment scheme? Yes □ No □
If so please supply name & contact details of FAS supervisor and or RSS supervisor:
Indicate which scheme: CE □ RSS □ Other □ Give details:…………………………..….
Name of Supervisor: ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Contact number for Supervisor: ……………………………………………………………………………………
Email: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....

Works Programme

Please give details for each element of proposed work programme. Details should be adequate to enable an evaluation of the works to be carried out.

Boundary Wall:

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Entrance Gate:

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Paths:

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Grass Cutting:

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

General Maintenance

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Other:

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……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....

Works Guidelines
1. No works involving the penetration or breaking of the existing ground surface should be undertaken. In effect no excavation e.g. paths must not be dug into the ground but must be laid down on the existing ground surface. Paths must not interfere with existing structures or cross over existing or potential graves. Preferably paths should only be laid around perimeter walls and where existing tracks can be identified.
2. No alteration of ground levels within graveyards must be undertaken. No levelling of the ground surface will be permitted.
3. No repairs to structures within the graveyard should be undertaken. Church ruins in particular must not be interfered with in any way as these structures are specifically protected under the National Monuments Acts. The sealing of open tombs may be undertaken following consultation with the Environment section of Kildare County Council and the Heritage Officer.
4. Ivy should not be killed, cut or pulled from extant structures, particularly church ruins, as this will seriously impact on the structural stability of the remains. Ivy may also be a habitat for protected wildlife species. Where the growth of ivy is excessive and is deemed to be a threat to the stability of the structure it may be trimmed back but this will only be permitted in certain circumstances and following on-site consultation with the Heritage Officer and possibly the National Parks and Wildlife Service Conservation Ranger.
5. Headstones and other grave markers should not be righted or re-erected. In general cleaning of headstones damages the stones particularly if wire brushes or sandblasting is employed and such work should not be undertaken on a general basis.
6. No construction should take place within the graveyard without prior consultation with Environment section of Kildare County Council and the Heritage Officer e.g. grottoes, seating & altars. Such works may require the approval of the National Monuments Service.
7. No stones should be removed from the site, nor should earth fast stones be pulled up or dug out of the ground. In general, except where there is a proven public safety issue stones should be left in situ.
8. Repairs to boundary walls, where appropriate must not be undertaken without prior consultation with Environment section of Kildare County Council and the Heritage Officer.
9. Broad spectrum weed killers should not be used and advice on dealing with the flora and fauna aspect of the site should be sought from the Heritage Officer, Kildare County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service Conservation Ranger. The habitats of many of our graveyards are sensitive and may contain species of flora and fauna that are protected under national and European law.
10. The felling or lopping of trees within graveyards may not be undertaken without a licence from the Forest Service. Relevant contact details can be obtained from the Heritage Office, Kildare County Council.
11. The clearance of vegetation is prohibited between March 1st and August 31st each year under the provisions of Section 46 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000.
12. The relevant committee must provide a written programme of works that they wish to carry out. This programme will be discussed with the, Environment section of Kildare County Council and the Heritage Officer. Following these consultations a final programme of notified works will be agreed. Any alterations to the agreed programme must be submitted in writing to Environment Section of Kildare County Council and the Heritage Officer. Only those works outlined in the agreed programme will be permitted.
General Guidelines
Any works undertaken by Kildare County Council staff, on behalf of the committee, will be undertaken on the basis of the agreed programme and under the direction of the Environment section of Kildare County Council and the Heritage Officer.
The committee accepts that Kildare County Council is not in a position to archaeologically supervise the works at the site, though the works maybe be inspected from time to time by an archaeologist, and that it is the responsibility of the committee to ensure that the works are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the agreed programme and the National Monuments Acts.
The committee understands that the site is a recorded monument protected under the provisions of the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004 and that any unauthorised works at the site may be deemed to be in breach of the Acts and could result in a prosecution.
Approval for any works outside the scope of the agreed programme must be obtained directly from the National Monuments Service, Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government at the following address:
Dún Scéine,
Harcourt Lane,
Dublin 2.

I hereby agree to carry out the works as outlined above. Any changes to the above work programme will be submitted to Kildare County Council for approval prior to their commencement.

I agree to attend any training course organised by Kildare County Council regarding the maintenance of Historic graveyards.

SIGNED ON BEHALF OF GRAVEYARD COMMITTEE

Chairperson: ______

Secretary: ______

Date: ______

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SIGNED ON BEHALF OF FAS/RURAL SOCIAL SCHEME

FAS/RSS Supervisor: ______

Date: ______