COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (1)

Monday, October 20, 2008

QUESTION NO 20.

QUESTION: Councillor S. Crowe

"To ask the Manager will he arrange for an investigation and removal of the tree outside numbers  9 & 10 Ambervale Estate as the roots are cracking garden walls, damaging the drain, the water main and  the ESB supply unit as well as creating a  physical danger to pedestrians?"

REPLY:

The existing street tree situated outside the address referred to in the question has been examined and was found to be in reasonably good condition. There was however evidence of some lifting of the footpath and cracking of the nearby front garden wall. The tree is also located beside a number of surface junction boxes associated with underground services.

The Roads Maintenance Department has been consulted and it has been agreed that they would plane the concrete footpath to remove any potential trip hazard.  It has also been agreed to prune the tree to remove any branches overhanging the front gardens of the nearby houses, so as to minimize overshadowing.  With regard to the cracked wall it is extremely difficult, in the absence of a full inspection of the roots of the tree located under the concrete slab, to determine with any degree of certainty, whether the tree is directly responsible for this damage. Accordingly it is proposed to monitor this tree in coming years and take whatever remedial action is deemed appropriate. However, it is not proposed to remove the tree at least in the short term.