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RIP.ie to charge €100 per death notice from January

Getty Images A white bouquet of flowers laid on a table with letters and a set of rosary beads. There is also a white candle on the table top, the scene is typical of a funeral service. Getty Images
Funeral directors have been been informed of a €100 charge on all notices with effect from 1 January

An Irish online funeral information service has announced a €100 charge per death notice on its website.

RIP.ie was bought by the Irish Times Group earlier this year and has become one of Ireland's most popular websites, with 3.3 million users last month.

Death notices had previously been free of charge with undertakers paying optional fees for extra advertising on the site.

A letter sent to client funeral directors was seen by RTÉ's Drivetime journalists, and outlines the plan to introduce the charges from 1 January.

'Funerals are sensitive business'

Rory Healy from R Healy and Sons funeral directors in Carlow said: "At €100 it still offers good value for families compared to the broad sheets which can run to €300/400 or local radio of up to €200.

"The accessibility of RIP.ie for consumers is the go to site now for death notices."

However, John Mark Griffin, from Griffin's Funeral Home in Limerick city and PRO of the IAFD told RTÉ Drivetime that members are "seeking clarity around the costings" as it is not clear whether the cost includes VAT.

Other funeral directors, including Joe Grogan from Galway have expressed concern at the idea of advertising now appearing on the site.

"Funerals are a sensitive business," he said, adding: "You don't want to be seeing ads or pop-ups that have nothing to do with funerals."

'Fair and good value for money'

A spokesperson for RIP.ie said the fees would "support the development and enhancement" of the RIP.ie service.

"Investing in our service will ensure that RIP.ie remains a trusted resource for bereaved families across Ireland and for the hundreds of thousands of people who post messages of condolence to those families on the site every week," they said.

"The platform, which operates seven days a week, also ensures people can find key information about funerals and funeral-related services.

"We have no plans to introduce a charge to users of the site," they added.

They said that "RIP.ie remains committed to offering an excellent service and a secure platform where bereaved families can be supported in commemorating their loved ones".