COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

QUESTION NO. 17

QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

To ask the Manager can an inspection of roadside trees in the Palmerston area be carried out and any branches that are a health and safety hazard are removed as a matter of urgency?

REPLY:

The street trees in the housing estates of Palmerston area were planted over time by a combination of the developers of the estates, Dublin Corporation (in some areas prior to 1986 boundary changes), the County Council and in some cases, local residents.  It has been the experience of the Council that where street trees were originally planted by developers/residents, that unsuitable and inappropriate trees species were often planted which are now giving rise to a range of problems.  Where the Council has been directly involved in the selection of trees for roadside planting, as far as possible, species which are known to cause difficulties have been avoided.  Trees have been selected on the basis of a range of factors including suitability (size of tree, size of margin), amenity (flowers/autumn colour), absence of conspicuous fruit or sterile forms, resistance to pests and disease and so on.

A significant number of tree queries are received each year, from a range of sources including the general public, Resident's Associations, Elected Public Representatives, other Council Departments and outside agencies such as Dublin Bus and An Garda Síochána.  These are in addition to trees identified by our own staff as being in need of work. Targeted programme of tree works have been undertaken in recent years as part of the Arboricultural Programmes with trees most in need of remedial works prioritised for action on the following basis:

• Trees in poor condition i.e. dead and diseased trees.
• Trees causing an obstruction to pedestrians or road traffic.
• Trees obstructing public lighting.

In keeping with good arboricultural practice, trees are removed where they are diseased, dying or dead.  Where trees are causing an obstruction to streetlights they are either be pruned or removed, depending on the particular circumstances.  Pruning is also undertaken where trees are causing an obstruction to passing pedestrians or vehicles.  This includes dealing with trees associated with footpath problems.  Request for tree pruning/removal are always inspected and any decision on the course of action is determined by the merits of the individual tree in question.  Removal of the tree is generally the last option and all other possible options are considered first.

Where residents have concerns in relation to trees, they are advised in the first instance to make contact with the Park's Department so that the details of the tree can be taken and arrangements made to inspect the tree.  The inspection will determine what works, if any, are required.  The inspection will also determine the priority of any works considered to be necessary, based on the criteria outlined above.  If the Elected Members have details of particular locations which are of concern, the Park's Department would welcome details so that the specific locations can be inspected.