Should Government consider State-run death notice website?

Consideration should be given to setting up a State-run death notice website following the decision by RIP.ie to charge €100 for funeral listings, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.

“RIP.ie has proven to be a highly effective way of notifying people of deaths that occur in local communities around the country, with millions using the service to find out funeral details and express their condolences.

“The decision by the new owners of the popular website to introduce a €100 fee from the start of this year will undoubtedly impact the effectiveness of the service, as the charge will place an additional financial burden on bereaved families.

“The move has already led to plans for multiple new websites offering free or lower-cost alternatives to RIP.ie. This will inevitably result in a more fractured service, making it more difficult – particularly for elderly people living in rural areas – to find funeral details online.

“In Ireland, funerals are something that we do particularly well, with communities coming together to offer support and comfort to bereaved families at very difficult times.

“The emergence of multiple death notice websites will not serve the public good. Instead of a situation where people have to navigate several online platforms to access funeral details, I believe consideration should now be given to setting up a State-run death notice website, offering a centralised service that is easy to use and free of charge for users.”