Funeral directors say grants need to be increased

The British Institute of Funeral Directors said the grant system must change to help those financially disadvantaged pay for funerals.

It has urged NI's political parties to help improve funding.

NI chairman Ian Milne said current grants were "insufficient to cover the rising costs of funerals, burial and cremations and need to be increased".

He was speaking at the Silver Jubilee Dinner for the British Institute of Funeral Directors.

"While clearly funerals are a sensitive matter, it is not unheard of for a member to be left out of pocket because the current grant arrangements are untenable," he said.

"Furthermore, the legislation is unclear about who is responsible for the burial of a person who dies without any assets and that legislation should be reviewed immediately."

Mr Milne, who runs a funeral directors in Portadown, County Armagh, said when there was a death it was a very sensitive time for families and individuals.

"Our members are empathetic to that. But their empathy is tempered by the fact that they are running businesses which provide a vital public service.

"I believe it's in the interests of everyone in Northern Ireland that clarity is brought to this situation through revised legislation."