COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 10, 2012

MOTION NO. 15

MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

That a discussion take place on the proliferation of the noxious weed "RAGWORTH" on public spaces across the County, e.g. the N4 at Palmerston, the Coldcut, the N81, with a view to finding a way of dealing with it (it is illegal not to cut it) as it is a source of frustration and blight on the efforts of local communities to work towards the objectives of  "Beautiful South Dublin".

REPORT:

Ragwort is generally not an issue in  Parks or Non National road grass margins which are maintained by the Parks Department in accordance with budget allocations.

In June ,SDCC received additional grants from the National Roads Authority and asked to prioritise the cutting of Ragworth. The additional monies are National Primary routes   €50,000; National Secondary routes €12,900..

Ragworth was cut on the N4 and N7 in late July and will be cut on the N81 in the coming week.

In 2013, it is envisaged that the maintenance of the N4 and N7 will be carried out by private contractors (this includes ragworth removal)

Isolated instances of ragworth may occur on land vested in the Council and efforts are made to contain same in the Council's asset management programmes.   The treatment of ragworth on private lands is a matter for the individual landowner.