COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

QUESTION NO. 4

QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney

"To ask the Chief Executive when the next phase of the tree programme on St Joseph's Rd, Greenhills agreed and mandated by the predecessor to this Committee will take place; what the plans are for removal, pruning and replanting on this road, and to make a statement on the matter?"

REPLY:

Arising from a meeting with residents of St. Joseph’s Road in February 2013 a programme of tree works was identified and agreed to by the residents. This programme was presented to a meeting of the Tallaght Area Committee on February 25th 2013.

The programme agreed included the removal of 9 trees, pruning of the remaining trees, and replanting of 9 trees at identified locations. The proposal was that 2 trees would be removed each year and replaced if possible in order to facilitate a gradual and phased programme of removal and replacement.

At this point, the removal of the 9 trees as agreed and pruning works has been completed.

On the 2015 Tree Maintenance Programme, as presented to the recent November meeting of the Rathfarnham / Templeogue-Terenure Area Committee, a further 5 trees are listed for removal on St. Josephs Road, arising from subsequent requests from residents and recommendations following inspection by Public Realm staff.

The proposed replacement tree planting has not yet been completed.  A thorough investigation of the entire road including the 9 locations previously identified for replanting is required in order to inform the selection and suitability of sites for replanting and the preparatory measures that may be required in order to ensure the long term sustainability of new trees planted.

St Josephs Road is a particularly challenging growing environment for trees due to narrow roadside margins and the proliferation of underground utilities along with overhead utility lines.

Where trees have been removed, large tree roots still remain within the soil beneath the surface. These factors have to be fully investigated in advance of replacement planting.