COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

QUESTION NO. 6

QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney

"To ask the Chief Executive to provide a report regarding planting of suitable street trees during 2017 in areas where unsuitable trees have been removed, and to make a statement on the matter?"

REPLY:

"As stated in the Council's 2015-2020 Tree Management Policy "Living With Trees", the principle of planting the ‘right tree in the right place’ will apply for all new and replacement tree planting.  It is recognised that the careful selection of appropriate tree species and planting location is essential to minimise future nuisance issues and unnecessary maintenance costs. It may not always be appropriate or possible to replace a tree at the same location from where a tree has previously been removed.  This particularly occurs where there is a proliferation of underground utilities which limits available space for tree root growth or where roadside margins are too narrow.  Potential sites for new and replacement tree planting as part of the ongoing winter 2016/spring 2017 Tree Planting Programme and future tree planting programmes are being inspected in advance to assess their suitability for new trees and to inform the selection of the most appropriate tree species for the location.   Factors being taken into consideration include location of underground and overhead services, sight lines, warning signs and traffic signals, available space for future growth of both the crown and roots of the tree.

Where there is a substantial requirement for new or replacement tree planting within a streetscape, the design of a new tree planting scheme aims to complement the local landscape character and reflect the scale, use and local interests of the location. Trees will be selected for their appropriateness of scale and proportion to their surroundings and the aesthetic contribution they make to that environment. Planting density and species selection will be guided by available space to ensure that each tree is compatible with its new site and has every opportunity to develop into a healthy mature specimen. The objective of new tree planting is to incorporate trees as a positive asset and an integral feature of their landscape setting."