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. 13

QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

To ask the Chief Executive for a report on the Tree Strategy for the County and to include by Area Committee, (a) the number of requests from residents for action on particular trees since January 1, 2017 , (b) the number of trees that are still on the “to do”, (c) what is the average time between a tree being reported and action being taken, (d) why are tree stumps left so long without being removed and can the Chief Executive give the average period of such a wait at present.

REPLY:

(a)The following table details the Customer care queries recorded by the Council in 2017 and to 31st Oct 2018. The queries are divided by category into the following

 

2017

2018 – Jan – 31st October

Tree Inspection

666

1025

Tree Planting

189

198

Tree pruning

1452

1571

Tree Removal

1205

1424

Tree Stump removal

98

129

(b) The following lists the tree maintenance works carried out in 2016, 2017 and to the end of September 2018.  In addition to the figures given below for tree pruning and removal, the Council in general carry out approximately 5,000 tree inspections per year and have an annual budget provision in place for the planting of 1,000 trees per year.  In 2017 a total 328 tree stumps were also removed.

 

2016

2017

End Sept 2018

Trees pruned

1616

1404

1597

Trees removed

706

691

888

A full update of the tree maintenance worked completed is available on the Council’s website and the work remaining to be done on the current on the tree maintenance programme is also detailed at this location.

(c) There are a number of variables that are taken into account that will determine the time taken between reporting a tree and action being taken. This would depend on the level of risk, whether the tree was damaged, dangerous and required immediate attention. However if a request outlines an urgency with regard to tree maintenance then the tree will be listed for immediate inspection and action. A survey of all the trees within the County is ongoing with over 15,500 trees surveyed to date out of an estimate of 60,000 street trees. Priority is given to surveying the trees on the Tree Maintenance Programme. The tree surveys are logged in Council’s Tree Management System and provide the basis for the tree maintenance work.

(d) When a street tree is felled by the Council, it is not always possible to remove the stump immediately.  Under these circumstances a short tree stump is left as a temporary measure. The stump is usually left at around 1m high so that it does not constitute a trip hazard in the intervening period. Tree stump removal is normally undertaken during the winter months between November and February. The average period between tree removal and stump removal can vary.