A TD has called for a free-of-charge, State-run death notice website following the decision by RIP.ie to charge €100 for funeral listings and the possible emergence of multiple online rival platforms.
It follows the acquisition of the popular death notices website by the Irish Times Group last year and the introduction of the new charge from this month, which some funeral directors have described as "excessive", given that notices were previously free of charge.
Following reports of multiple online death notice platforms being set up to provide cheaper or even free alternatives, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said she believed 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".
The Wicklow TD also said the new €100 charge will place "an additional financial burden on bereaved families".
Ms Whitmore told RTÉ's Drivetime: "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."
Expressing the view that "multiple death notice websites will not serve the public good", Ms Whitmore said she believes 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," instead of a situation where people have to navigate several online platforms to access funeral details.
Previously, Labour TD Conor Sheehan also criticised the introduction of the €100 charge, calling on its owners to reverse its decision.
He said that "charging people €100 to post a death notice is wrong" on a site that has become a "crucial community tool for people up and down this country".
The Limerick TD acknowledged the reason provided by the Irish Times Group for the fee is to "upgrade and enhance the service", but said that from his "own experience and from speaking to friends and family, the website seems to function perfectly".
Read more:
How multiple death notice websites plan to compete with RIP.ie
How RIP.ie became an Irish cultural phenomenon
Yesterday, the Irish Times Group said it had no comment to make regarding other death notice platforms, but stated they have had "no issues with the new charging system of €100 plus VAT" which was "well flagged with funeral directors".
It added that there had been no fall off in the numbers of listings on the site in the first week of charging.
The statement also pointed to significant investment in "site security, staffing levels and extended customer care hours since the Irish Times purchased RIP.ie", with "plans to significantly extend its reach" due to be announced "in the coming weeks".
