A Parish Priest has submitted plans to Waterford City and County Council for a columbarium area at St. Mary's Church, Ballygunner.
If planning is granted, a structure for the public storage of urns containing cremated remains could be built.
Fr. Liam Power, PP of St. Joseph & St. Benildus' Church & St. Mary's Church, Ballygunner - spoke of the plans on Deise Today.
He says a shortage of land for graves is one of the main reasons why the planning is sought.
"There are a number of reasons, and we are running out of ground. In about eight years, we'll be out of ground for graves. The primary reason is that it is increasingly becoming the custom and that cremation is becoming more and more popular", said Fr. Power.
"A lot of people bury urns in existing graves so we felt that it may be more appropriate to have a designated structure for ashes - to have a structure that would be respectful and communicate respect for the dead. A place that families could store ashes. I think it is going to become increasingly more important to discuss this possibility, because we are running out of space. It's a big problem, right throughout Ireland - and across Europe."
Fr. Liam Power says a similar structure exists in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin - and there would be demand for such in Waterford based on current trends.
"Judging by the experience in Glasnevin, it will provide a very respectful setting. You can have two urns, a husband and wife could be together and their names written to identify them."
