Demand for graves in Mellieha cemetery exceeds supply

Demand for the purchase of graves at a cemetery in Marfa Road near Mellieha is already bigger than the number of new graves which may be made available through an extension.

Social Policy Minister John Dalli said in Parliament that the number of graves in use is 84. The number of applications for the purchase of graves is 110 and there is place for the digging of 74 new graves.

The Health Department cannot say when the extension works will be taken in hand.

Last year Mr Dalli also announced plans for the extension of Addolorata Cemetery by 9,000 graves.

The extension would cost around €30 million and the project would be self-financing. Each grave would cost around €8,000.

The cemetery would not be privatised but handed over to a government agency and a management contract for 25 years would be issued by tender.