COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 12, 2018

QUESTION NO. 20

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive if he can now confirm that additional funding and resources will be provided in the 2019 Budget to respond to concerns from communities throughout the County in respect of the Tree Programme; will he appreciate that communities are anxious that everything possible will be done to deal with those concerns; will he give details and will he make a statement.

REPLY:

The preparation of figures for inputting into the budgetary process for 2019 is complete.  The programme of tree work to be undertaken is outlined in the 3 year rolling programme of tree maintenance for 2017-2019. However in the previous 2 years, the impact of the more frequent and severe storms have resulted in a delay in the delivery of the programme, as staff have had to deal with the resulting tree damage. The additional tree maintenance as a result of storms in 2018 represents an increase of 15 to 20% on the original programme of works.

In 2018, procurement processes were completed to engage suitably qualified arboricultural contractors to carry out works on trees in conflict with overhead electricity wires and on high risk trees and these contractors will be engaged over the coming year to deal with such requirements as they arise on the agreed tree maintenance programme.  An increase in the budget provision for tree maintenance has been proposed and will be considered through the statutory budget process.  If such an increase is provided then it can be utilised in the Council's response to unplanned tree emergencies, dangerous trees, trees in high risk situations, trees in conflict with power lines and trees in parks which are in conflict with adjoining properties.  This will expedite the delivery of the 3 year tree maintenance programme as it will release Council staff to concentrate on the agreed 3 year rolling tree management programme.