COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 14, 2011

QUESTION NO. 22

QUESTION: Councillor E. Walsh 2009

1. An bhféadfadh leis an gComhairle a beartas maidir le leagan crann  a léiríú?

2. An nglacfadh leis an gComhairle go bhfuil Áitritheoirí ag fanacht , i gcásanna Áirithe, ar feadh 3 bliana sa bhreis chun crainn atá ró-ard a bhaint?

3. Cén sórt tacaíocht agus comhoibriú atá ar fáil don Chomhairle Contae ó na cuideachtaí fhóntais phoiblí eile, ESB agus Bord Gáis, mar shampla, chun dul i ngleic leis an bhfadhb seo agus an bhfuil comhbheartas ann maidir léi?

1.Would the Council explain its policy regarding tree felling?

2. Would the Council accept that there are residents awaiting over three years for overgrowing trees to be felled?

3. What support and cooperation is available to the Council from public utilty companies such as ESB and Bórd Gáis to resolve this problem and is there a joint policy regarding same?   

FREAGRA

Is polasaí soiléir atá ag an Chomhairle maidir le leagan crann. 

Má tá bagairt ar shlándáil an phobail, déantar leagan crann chomh luath agus is féidir chun fáil réidh leis an riosca.  I ngach cás eile, ní Úsáidtear leagan crann ach mar an rogha deiridh, nuair atá staidéar déanta ar na bealaí Éagsúla atá ann chun an fhadhb a réiteach ach nach bhfuil sásúil.

Glacann an Chomhairle leis go bhfuil grúpa beag cónaitheoirí atá ag iarraidh na crainn seo a bhaint, atá taobh lena n-áitreabh, le cúpla bliain anuas.  I móramh na gcásanna, tá na crainn folláin agus cuma mhaith orthu, agus Ó thaobh bhainistíocht na gcrann de, níl aon chúis na crainn a bhaint.  Mar shampla, tá cúpla cás ar na leabhair anseo, ina bhfuil cónaitheoirí ag iarraidh go mbaintear na crainn taobh amuigh dá dtithe ar chúiseanna difriúla: páirceáil; leathnú na sráide; an líne amhairc ar mhiasa satailíte nua Á blocáil; scáth Á chur ar ghrianphainéil nua; sú na crann ag titim ar charranna páirceáilte (is fadhb chosmaideach Í seo a bhaineann le crainn Áirithe); agus toisc go dtiteann go leor duilleog san Fhómhair sna gairdíní chun tosaigh agus ar chosáin.

Sna Áiteanna níos sinne sa Chontae, ina bhfuil seirbhísí ag riteacht os do chionn, mar BSL agus teileafóin,  bíonn deacrachtaí idir na seirbhísí ag riteacht os do chionn agus crinnte.  Bíonn an Chomhairle ag obair le na gnóthaí seo, chun freagra a fháil a shásaíonn gach duine.  Maidir le líne os do chionn leis an BSL, is iad conraitheoirí speisialta a thugann an BSL isteach, mar gheall ar chúrsaí Sláinte agus Slándála.

Bíonn fadhbanna freisin maidir le seirbhísí atá faoi talún, agus réitítear iad seo le na gnóthaí cuí tríd córas Roadmap an Comhairle.

REPLY:

The Council's policy in relation to tree felling is straightforward.

Where there is an immediate threat to public safety, tree felling is carried out as soon as is practical to mitigate the risk. In all other cases, tree felling is considered as a last resort, when all other options and alternatives have been considered and ruled out.

The Council would accept that there is a small group of residents who have been seeking the removal of a tree or trees, adjacent to their properties for a number of years. In the majority of the cases concerned, the trees are healthy and in good condition and, from a tree management point of view, there is no particular reason to remove the tree. For example, we have a number of cases on our books where residents are seeking the removal of the tree outside their house for various reasons including car parking, widening of driveways, blocking line of sight for newly installed satellite dishes, shading of newly installed solar panels, sap falling on parked cars (this is a cosmetic issue associated with certain tree species) and simply because the trees shed a lot of leaves in front gardens and on footpaths in the autumn.

In the older parts of the county, where overhead services such as ESB and telephone, run along the streets, conflicts do arise between trees and the overhead services. The Council works with the service providers, to reach a resolution that satisfies the concerns of all involved. In relation to overhead ESB lines, the necessary works are generally carried out by specialist contractors engaged by the ESB, because of the Health & safety issues involved. 

Issues also arise in relation to underground services and these are resolved with relevant service providers through the Council's Roadmap system.