The operators of the RIP.ie website have said they have no plans to increase controversial charges for death notices introduced 12 months ago as they report "a strong year" with 5% growth in user numbers.
The platform for funeral notices and online condolences is marking 20 years of service this year and was bought by the Irish Times Group for an undisclosed sum in May of 2024.
The introduction of fees of €100 plus VAT for death notices in January of 2025 prompted concerns from funeral directors, who sought clarity on pricing plans and commercial content on the site.
Some opposition politicians also called for the service to remain free, or for the Government to set up a state-run service to maintain RIP.ie's public service role.
One year on, the Irish Times group told RTÉ’s Drivetime that recent customer surveys indicate users and funeral directors are "very happy with the site and the services provided by RIP.ie".
Galway undertaker Joe Grogan was one of many who "didn’t agree with the charge 12 months ago" but says he doesn’t "see any problem with it" now, with all of his client families still asking for their funerals to be listed on RIP.ie.
Most people "don’t even bat an eyelid at the €100 plus VAT charge", he added saying that compared to traditional newspaper charges of "€300 to €400 you don’t mind paying" the RIP.ie charge.
Other undertakers seem to be in agreement too, after assurances were sought from the Irish Association of Funeral Directors from the Irish Times Group when the new charges began.
With over 300 members nationwide, IAFD Spokesperson Jane Clarke – who is the Assistant General Manager of Stafford’s Funeral Directors in Dublin - said she hasn’t seen "any instance where cost is a factor or a barrier that would prevent their family wishing to place their loved one’s notice" on the RIP site.
Having sought clarity on the issue from the Irish Times Group last year, Ms Clarke said the IAFD "understood that visitors to the site would never be charged" and they "expect that that will remain the case".
She added that the IAFD are "not aware of any further cost increases planned".
With many potential rival websites being announced in response to the RIP.ie charges a year ago, few have actually materialised with up-to-date funeral notices online.
Tech Entrepreneur Mark Legge told RTE’s Drivetime that his website, "The Solace" still plans to offer online condolences and memorials through funeral directors, and from their own research, he believes that out of "around 15 rival websites" announced last year, just "two remain".
One of those is the Condolence.ie site, set up as a free of charge service by Donegal funeral supplier Danny Morning. He told the programme that he intends to continue to build his platform as "some people don’t want to pay" for RIP.ie.
With "no plans" to increase charges, the operators of RIP.ie say they have "invested significantly in site security, customer care and increased staffing" since the introduction of their fee structures.
In a statement to Drivetime, they say they have also developed a donations payment gateway where users can donate to a deceased person’s chosen charity raising €1.2 million last year, while they also pointed to other developments including online resources about grief, emotional support and financial planning, a new podcast and plans for various community projects to honour loved ones.