Council to waive burial costs for children

The motion by UUP Councillor Stephen Nicholl comes after his party colleague Julie O’Flaherty brought a similar one to Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council following the death of her 2-year-old son Jake.

Under the scheme parents will no longer have to meet the costs of burials and cremations with these being covered by government funding. A Children’s Funeral Fund will only be considered in Northern Ireland when power sharing is restored.

Cllr Nicholl said: “This council recognises the introduction of Government funding in England and Wales to cover the funeral costs of children. In the absence of a functioning government in Northern Ireland such action cannot be introduced regionally. We can resolve this until the introduction of a regional initiative.”

There was unanimous support for the local authority to waive all costs normally associated with the provision of a grave for children under 18 years of age.

Seconding the proposal, Cllr Lindsay Millar said: “This motion will not cause a great expenditure to the council but will truly make a difference to parents whose lives have been shattered by the death of a child, and I am glad our council has unanimously agreed to this.”

The Mayor, Cllr Paul Reid said “nobody should be denied the right to bury their own child in a dignified way”.