ConsumerValue: Other Services
2. Funeral Services
There is simply is no such thing as a recommended or “average” cost of a funeral. When it comes to marking the passing of a loved one, the cost will vary depending on precisely what those organising the ceremony select.
Funeral costs are not “common currency” for most people and this, allied to the general sadness and emotional upheaval involved at such a sensitive time, means that many consumers are especially vulnerable when it comes to planning and paying for the event.
To assist you in planning a funeral, it is advisable to have an outline of your wishes ready before you contact the undertaker. It is also helpful to have as clear an idea as possible of what your budget is.
Written estimate
It is strongly recommended that you ask for a written estimate of the total cost of the funeral so that you are fully aware of the expenditure before it is incurred.
To assist you in this exercise, a short checklist of the principal costs involved in a funeral is appended at the end of this section.
While there is a considerable degree of variation in terms of the cost of a funeral, it should be remembered that part of the reason for such variation can be dependent on what the consumer actually receives.
For example, some funeral directors charge an upfront fee, and it may include the hire of the funeral parlour, the hire of the hearse etc – others may not charge a fee per se but will charge separately for the hire of the funeral parlour, hearse etc.
Burials and cremations
Another useful point to investigate is if the deceased had an existing burial plot available. The option to pre-purchase a plot is now fairly rare (although some local authorities still allow this practice). Obviously, if a plot already exists, this will help to reduce the overall cost of the burial. There is a wide differential in pricing around the country.
The deceased may have wished to be cremated. Cremation facilities are available in Dublin(3) and Cork(1) but not yet in other parts of the country. The facilities are not restricted to people in those areas.
In either the case of burial or cremation, your funeral director will be able to provide full details of the options available.
The cost of the headstone is generally not included in the funeral arrangements, as this will typically follow in due course.
While the funeral director may be able to recommend a provider and/or look after the details relating to this issue, they usually do not provide the service directly. The cost of a headstone can vary dramatically, depending on what you want installed at the grave site.
Grants and assistance
Grants and assistance towards the cost of funerals are available in varying degrees to most families. It is advisable to check with the Department of Social and Family Affairs in the first instance.
In some cases, there is the option of arranging a funeral plan – this usually takes the form of pre-paying for the funeral and it has the advantage of allowing either the families or the individual to have more control over their own, or close relative arrangements.
Read a checklist of principal funeral costs