A crisis in vocations has forced the Diocese of Killaloe to admit that it may have to cut back on services offered by priests.
The Diocese Pastoral Plan to 2020 says roles previously performed by priests, including "visiting the sick, bringing communion to the housebound, receiving funerals at the church and officiating at graveside" could be done by lay ministers.
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An Irish Examiner report also states that the plan contains a proposal that Masses won't be held in all existing churches on a given weekend, but instead be scheduled for parish clusters.
There are 82 priests in the Diocese, down from 100 a decade ago, and there is currently only one seminarian due to be ordained next year.
