COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

MOTION NO. 5

MOTION: Councillor D. O'Donovan

"That the Chief Executive obtains a commitment from Parks Dept to plant trees in Prospect Manor estate. In 2012 / 2013 they came to an arrangement with Parks to pay for 12 trees each year which they ordered and the parks would plant. They met a SDCC Manager in February 2014 who advised them that they would be organised in 2015.  Since then they have dealt with several other SDCC officials, but they still have no trees."

REPORT:

The Council plans its annual tree planting in accordance with available budget resources and the financial constraints of recent years have resulted in very limited implementation of new or replacement tree planting across the county over the last 5 years.   Under the Council's 2016 budget, additional provision is being proposed to enable the Council to re-establish its commitment to a countywide programme of tree planting.  

As stated in the Council's Tree Management Policy "Living With Trees",  areas to be prioritised for new tree planting will be those where trees have been removed or where there is an identified need to increase the overall tree cover. Requests from Council members and local residents for new trees in their road or area will also be taken into consideration within the planting programme. Such requests will be prioritised according to the number of trees already on the street, including those in front gardens and on adjacent land.

Having regard to the above criteria for new tree planting, Prospect Manor estate is considered to be well provided for with street trees and trees on open space areas and would not be considered a priority for tree planting at this time.  While the Council is aware of a request from the Prospect Manor Resident's Association for additional trees to be planted on the open space adjoining the River Owendoher at the rear of the estate, we are not aware of any specific commitment or arrangement as outlined in regard to tree planting.  However, arrangements can be made to meet with representatives of the Resident's Association to discuss proposals for tree planting.  Any arrangement in regard to purchasing or planting new trees into areas within the estate that come under the remit of the Council will require agreement with the Council in regard to suitability of tree species, size of trees and planting methodology.