11. Cemetery Bye-Laws No.s 20, 23-29, 33-34, 36-40: Monument Sculptors, Contractors, Any Other Agents (see Summary Document Section I)

Sandblasting of old Headstones

20.

Sandblasting or polishing of old headstones may weaken the headstone. Approval must be sought from the Council prior to any sandblasting or polishing works being carried out to old headstones (pre 1900AD). The Council may issue guidelines in respect of cleaning old graves.

Erection of Monuments

23.

1. An application form to erect a headstone or to replace an existing headstone must be submitted to the Council.
2. A descriptive statement of what is proposed, together with a dimensioned drawing to a scale of not less than 1 is to 20 shall be included with application form for approval.
3. All structures shall have reinforced concrete bases with dowels, specifications of the dowels to be included on the application.
4. The heights of any structure proposed shall not exceed 1.2m (4ft 6ins) above beam level.
5. An exception in the case exists where a Celtic Cross is permitted once it does not exceed 2.13m (7 ft) in height.
6. The base of plinth for flowers or headstones for a single plot shall measure a maximum of 1.2m (3ft 10ins) long x 254mm (10ins) high.
7. No tomb, monument, vault, headstone, tablet or permanent structure of any description or material shall be erected or constructed on any place of burial in the cemetery, unless and until the structure has been approved of in writing by an Official of the Council.
8. Height restrictions apply in the case of lawn cemeteries, new cemeteries and extensions to existing cemeteries. In the case of existing cemeteries, exceptions are by written permission only.  The number of the grave space shall be clearly identified on the face of the headstone base.

9. A Headstone Permit to erect a tomb, monument, vault, tablet or permanent structure of any description must be available for inspection by any Council Official on demand.
10. The Council may at its absolute discretion remove a headstone or any permanent structure which has not been erected in accordance with the terms of its headstone permit or in cases where a headstone permit has not been obtained.

Perishable and unsuitable materials

24.

The use of materials of a perishable nature such as timber, ironwork or the like as part of any monument or structure in any cemetery will not be permitted, except in cases of the erection of a temporary monument. Temporary monuments would be for a period of less than 12 months.

Kerbs/

Footstones Etc

25.

1. Where any cemetery or part of a cemetery has been provided and developed as a lawn cemetery, no kerbstones/footstones of any description will be permitted.
2. In any cemetery, other than a lawn cemetery, where the layout is such that the Council may specify that the Council may grant permission for kerbs to be erected, the Council may specify that the top of the kerb shall be kept flush with the adjoining ground level. 
3. Railings, chains and wind chimes are not permissible on gravespaces or monuments. No monument or fences constructed of plastic, wood, glass, ferrous metals or tiles shall be permitted.

Foundation using Beams

26.

In any cemetery where headstone beams have been provided at any time, the headstone or any other type of monument being proposed shall be erected using the appropriate headstone beam as the foundation. Stainless steel dowels of appropriate length should be used.

Foundation where Beam will not be available.

27.

Where the beam is not provided the foundation for the headstone shall be cast as a single unit. The foundation shall be constructed of good quality concrete with an 8-day crushing strength of not less than 30N/mm2. The minimum dimensions shall be 300mm (1ft) deep by 225mm (9ins) wide. It shall contain minimum reinforcement of 4 No. 12mm (0.5ins) mild steel bars, 2 of which shall be located near the lower face of the foundation and 2 of which shall be located near the upper face of the foundation. The steel will have minimum cover on all sides of 50mm (2ins). The foundation shall be entirely within the boundaries of the gravespace, which it is enclosing. Full details of construction of beam should be agreed with the Council before commencement of work.

National Monuments

28.

Where a Burial Ground is located within or in the vicinity of a National Monument or within or in the vicinity of a location which is noted in the Record of Monuments and Places or a structure which is entered in the Record of Protected Structures, any monument erected in such a Burial Ground shall be in keeping with the character of such National Monument, Recorded Monument, Protected Structure and subject to the following guidelines:

1. No new grave space within the church building or ruin.
2. No new grave space within a minimum of 2m from the church building or ruin.
3. Any new headstone on an existing grave space within 2m of the church building must be of limestone and cannot exceed (including the foundation beam) 750mm in height. In cases of nationally important buildings this height may be further reduced to 500mm.
4. A beam may be placed on a double grave plot for the full width of the plot at the headstone end but no other kerbing or surrounds may be attached to the grave.
5. Beyond the immediate area 2m of the church building or ruins the headstone should preferably still be of limestone and should be of an appropriate design.
6. No kerbs should be attached and the cover of the burial plot should be of grass.
7. No works shall be carried out to any standing masonry ruins or masonry walls, or other structures without prior consultation with the Council and in compliance with all applicable statutory procedures and requirements.

Supervision of works

29.

All works in erecting monuments or the like carried out in the cemetery are subject to supervision and control of the Cemeteries Caretaker or Cemeteries staff. The permit to erect a headstone must be available on request for inspection. The dumping and mixing of sand, gravel and cement for making concrete will not be permitted on paths or unprotected ground, and must be carried out on portable platforms. All surplus materials left over when the work has been completed must be removed from within the confines of the cemetery by the contractor or the owner of the gravespace at the time of the completion of the works.

Selling Articles

33.

No person shall sell or offer or expose for sale any articles, commodity or thing of any kind whatsoever or solicit for orders from the public within the cemetery. Any person soliciting orders within the cemeteries for the erection or repair of memorials will be required to leave the cemeteries and will not be admitted again without the permission of the Council.

Television and Cameras

34.

The use of still, cine and television cameras shall not be used to photograph mourners or any part of a funeral cortege within the cemetery, without the prior consent of the Council and the immediate family.  This however, does not preclude the Council from installing and maintaining Close Circuit Television (CCTV) for the purposes of security and public safety.

Health and Safety Legislation.

36.

All persons carrying out work within a cemetery will have due regard to and shall comply with the provisions of the Health and Safety Legislation.

Works in Cemetery

37.

No persons shall engage in works in any Cemeteries except where expressly requested by the Council (including sculptors, landscape and landscape workers) without prior permission from the Council and without paying the prescribed fees and required public liability insurances.

Damage

38.

Any damage done to lawns, gravespaces, walls, drives, trees, shrubs or other property by non-cemetery workers must be repaired by those persons causing such damage.

Monument Sculptors and Stonemasons

39.

1. Any monument sculptor or stonemason wishing to carry out work in any cemetery in the functional area of Limerick City and County Council, must be registered with the Council and hold an annual work permit. The annual work permit is due for renewal on the 1st January each year and may be subject to a registration fee.
2. The Council may from time to time set conditions for admission to its Register of Authorised Monument Sculptors and conditions for maintaining an entry in the Register of Authorised Monument Sculptors.
3. The Council may set rules and regulations in respect of;

-Insurances to be held by a monument sculptor

-Competence and work record of a monument sculptor

4. All monument sculptors shall comply with such rules and regulations as may be introduced by the Council concerning the provisions referred to in 39(III).
5. The Council may remove a monument sculptor from the Register of Authorised Monument Sculptors if;

-The monument sculptor erects, or assists in the erection of, a monument in a Council cemetery where the erection of such monument has not been authorised in writing by the Council or where it has not been erected in accordance with the terms of permit. 

-The monument sculptor fails in the opinion of the Council to carry out his work in a safe manner,

-The monument sculptor fails in the opinion of the Council to work in a tidy manner within the Council cemetery.

-The monument sculptor does not abide by the Bye Laws.

6. Before the Council removes any monument sculptor from the Register of Authorised Monument Sculptors it will offer them the opportunity to make any representations considered necessary in accordance with the principles of natural justice.

Writing on Monuments

40.

No person shall write any word or symbol upon any monument which would give rise to public offence.