COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 14, 2019

QUESTION NO.11

QUESTION: Councillor P. Gogarty

To ask the Chief Executive to outline on an annualised and total basis up until September 30, 2019, how many trees were cut down since 2014 by the Council or its agents; to outline the main reasons for same if data available; to outline how many trees were planted by the Council or its agents during the same period; and if a statement can be made on the matter.

REPLY: 

The Council's Tree Management Plan - Living with Trees - outlines the Council’s position regarding the ongoing maintenance, renewal and management of trees.

Trees are removed only when necessary as a last resort. The criteria for tree removal are:

tree is dead, dying or is considered hazardous due to its poor structural or biological condition,. Hazardous conditions may exist above and/or below ground and may include significant root, trunk or crown decay, split trunks and crotches, and large dead limbs.

The tree has declined beyond the point of recovery and is no longer meeting the functional or aesthetic requirements of a street tree. Typically, a tree with 30 percent or less of its foliage remaining would meet this criterion.

Fatally diseased trees (eg. Ash dieback, Fireblight Disease) may be removed before they reach the primary threshold in order to prevent the spread of disease to healthy trees.

To allow space for development of nearby trees that may be more desirable for retention

To allow space for new planting

To make way for any approved engineering or building works when unavoidable construction work will immediately compromise the stability or viability of the tree.

Tree proven to be causing significant structural damage that cannot be reasonably addressed by an alternative solution and proactive tree management has had no mitigating effect.

To abate actionable nuisance

The trunk of the tree is within 2m of a public lighting column and the long term viability of the tree if retained in its location would be compromised by a requirement for ongoing maintenance in order to maintain the effectiveness of the adjoining street light.

Summary	2015	2016	2017	2018	End Sept 2019
Trees removed	638	706	1,014	1,163	664
Trees planted	92	1082	606	1469	1639

The total tree planting programme figures are 4888 versus the figure for tree removals 4185 for the period 2015-end September 2019