€17m in emergency payments spent helping people bury loved ones over past two years

The average payment for funeral expenses was around €3,500, according to data released under Freedom of Information laws. Picture: Denis Minihane.

More than €17m was provided in emergency payments over the past two years to people struggling with the cost of burying loved ones.

The spending was part of more than €133m paid out by the Department of Social Protection in additional needs payments in 2024 and 2025.