Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 206

Arrangements for burials

Section 206 empowers designated persons to arrange and fund burials where no suitable arrangements exist, and to recover the costs from the deceased's estate or those who had a legal obligation to maintain them.

• A designated person may arrange burial for anyone who dies in the State without suitable burial arrangements, or whose body is found unclaimed (including drowning victims washed ashore)
• The designated person may also bring into the State for burial the body of a supplementary welfare allowance recipient who died abroad
• All necessary burial expenses may be paid by the designated person
• Costs may be recovered from the deceased's estate or from anyone legally obliged to maintain the deceased before death