COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, January 13, 2020

QUESTION NO. 6

QUESTION: Councillor Yvonne Collins

To ask the Chief Executive if the Council will adopt a policy of, where planting appropriate trees and plants in parks and housing estates, to plant species which are native to Ireland.

REPLY:

The principle of planting the ‘right tree in the right place’  has been adopted by the Council through it's Tree Management Policy - Living with Trees. The choice of tree species for street tree planting is dependent on suitability to the planting location and local landscape character. Species will be selected on suitability to setting, biodiversity value and visual appearance. The selection of street trees is guided by their mature size, water demand, crown shape and future management requirements. Species utilised in tree planting programmes will be those judged by the Council to be appropriate for the circumstances based on policy, arboriculture knowledge and experience.

Native trees are trees that have grown in Ireland since the ice age and include hazel, oak, willow , birch, ash, Scot's pine and rowan. The native trees can be planted in parks and open spaces and cultivated varieties are used in street planting where uniformity and consistency is important.