COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, July 08, 2019
QUESTION NO. 8
QUESTION: Councillor Yvonne Collins
To ask the Chief Executive how much was spent on tree maintenance in 2017,2018 and 2019 to date, to include tree pruning, tree removal, stump removal and tree replanting, including details of the types of trees being replanted, and to list the information sought in tabular form by ward.
REPLY:
South Dublin County Council manages and maintains trees in public spaces – streets, parks and open spaces. There are approximately 60,000 street trees in the County.
The Council’s Tree Management Policy ‘Living with Trees’ outlines the Council’s policy with regard to tree maintenance.
Some of the main objectives of the policy are:
- Improve tree management and create a safer, healthier tree population
- Implement a proactive, planned programme of cyclical tree maintenance
- Maximise the use of the Council’s resources to provide a better service and give better value for money.
In line with the Council's Tree Management Policy 2015-2020, the focus of the Annual Tree Maintenance Programme deals with entire roads or whole estates increasing the efficiency and productivity of the tree maintenance. In advance of any works being carried out, a full survey of all trees in the estate, is carried out to inform the scheduling of tree pruning and removal works.
The table below gives details of the cost to provide the tree management service in the years 2017 to 2019 and includes some statistics giving details of work done in this area over the period in question. Please note that it is not possible to provide this information broken down by electoral area or ward.
|
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
Budget € |
2,359,700 |
2,490,900 |
2,796,100 |
|
|
|
|
Figures to end May 2019 |
|
Trees removed |
1032 |
1189 |
931 |
|
Trees pruned |
1766 |
1997 |
390 |
|
Trees planted |
606 |
1713 |
1,634 |
|
Tree stump removal |
328 |
4 |
651 |
|
Tree inspections |
4056 |
3147 |
4,653 |
The list below is a sample of some of the trees planted in recent years.
Street Trees
Acer campestre ‘Elsrijk’ Field maple 10-15m
Acer platanoides ‘Globosum’ Maple 6-8m
Amelanchier arborea ‘Robin Hill’ Serviceberry 5-10m
Betula albosinensis ‘Fascination’ Chinese Birch 10-15m
Betula pendula Silver Birch 10-15m
Betula utilis ‘Jacquemontii’ Himalayan Birch
Carpinus betulus ‘Frans Fontaine’ Hornbeam 10-15m
Corylus colurna Turkish hazel 10-15m
Crataegus monogyna ‘Stricta’ Hawthorn 5-10m
Malus trilobata Crab Apple 5-7m
Malus tschonoskii Crab Apple 5-7m
Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ Ornamental Pear 10-15m
Sorbus aucuparia (Cultivars) Rowan 10-15m
Sorbus aria ‘Lutescens’ Whitebeam 7-10m
Sorbus discolor Chinese Rowan 7-10m
Sorbus intermedia ‘Brouwers’ Swedish Whitebeam 10-15m
Sorbus ‘Sheerwater Seedling’ Rowan Hybrid 10-15m
Sorbus x thuringiaca ‘Fastigiata’ Rowan Hybrid 7-10m
Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’ Small leaved Lime 10-15m
Trees with a larger mature size will also be planted as street trees when appropriate to the location.
Examples of large growing species to be considered for planting may include:
Latin Name Common name Height at Maturity
Alnus cordata Italian alder 15-20m
Betula ermanii Ermans Birch 15-20m
Juglans regia Walnut 15-20m
Quercus ilex Holm Oak 20m +
Robinia pseudoacacia False acacia 15-20m