COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
HEADED ITEM NO.18
OPEN SPACE AT ROAD RESERVATION AT WHITECLIFF
The following reply was presented to the Rathfarnham Area Committee meeting of the 12th October 2010:
The road reservation area is well maintained and generally free of litter. There is however, some dumping of "green waste" in some areas that have shrub and tree cover. This may at times be an attraction for rats. Rats are present in all environments and never far from the human population. Nevertheless, areas such as this which are relatively clean would not normally have an above average population of rats and where this happens it is generally due to human issues and this includes dumping of food waste or other litter. In this case it is not considered to be an area that would be expected to have a higher than normal rat population. It is therefore not considered to be appropriate to undertake particular actions in this area.
The Arboricultural Works Programme for 2010/2011 is currently under preparation and will be presented to the Elected Members following the adoption of the 2011 Estimates. The area has been examined again and it has been listed for consideration but it is not considered to be a priority area.
In preparing the 2009/2010 Arboricultural Programme, priority was given to tree pruning and removal on an estate by estate basis rather than on an individual tree basis. While this approach has proved to be efficient and effective in making the best use of the available resources, it did mean that some areas had to be prioritised over others. It is intended to use the same approach again this year.
It should be noted that the list of estates being considered for inclusion in the 2010/2011 programme is large and it will not be possible to include every estate. The programme of works to be undertaken will be as extensive as the Council's resources and financial capacity will permit in the current economic climate. It is therefore intended to prioritise the work on an estate by estate basis, based on tree management principles and good arboricultural practice. Individual trees will only be included where works are required as a matter of urgency in the interests of public safety.