Graves in the first phase of a new cemetery at Newlands Cross on the outskirts of Dublin will be available from January next year, it has been announced.
The completed development will cost £7.2 million and cover a 115-acre site bounded by the M50, Naas Road, Belgard Road and Kingswood Heights. It will also have a crematorium, due to open in 2001.
The first phase will comprise an eight-acre site with room for about 8,500 graves. It will also contain the main building for the cemetery, made up of three interlocking pavilions designed by Andre Wejchert, a leading architect.
Situated at the entrance to the cemetery, one of the pavilions, to be known as the Temple Building, will be used for services for all denominations. There will also be a circular cloistered meeting area and an administration building.
The cemetery is being developed by the Dublin Cemeteries Committee in co-operation with South Dublin County Council. Mr George McCullough, manager of the committee, said there was a great need for the new cemetery. "Our cemetery at Palmerstown is nearly full and there are no others available in this area of Dublin," he said.
The crematorium planned for the site, only the second in the State, was also needed as the installation in Glasnevin was already operating close to full capacity. He noted that although only 4 per cent of people were cremated, the figure was expected to rise significantly.
The cost of graves will vary depending on which section they are in. The most expensive will be in the "Parnell" section with a price of £680. Plots in the "St Maelruan" and "Naomh Cillin" sections will command a figure of £510. Each grave will be able to hold up to four burials. It is estimated that when completed the cemetery will have space for 50,000 graves.
The administration building will incorporate a coffee shop, flower shop, monuments display area, office and public lavatories.