COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

QUESTION NO. 9

QUESTION: Councillor Eoin Ó Broin

"To ask the Chief Executive for an update on when new trees will be planted in the Castle Park Estate in Clondalkin in the places were trees and stumps were removed during the last tree maintenance work carried out in the estate?"

REPLY:

South Dublin County Council recognises the value of street trees in the urban environment and is committed to planting new trees to ensure that the visual amenity in South Dublin is assured for future generations.

Areas targeted for new tree planting are those where trees have been removed or where there is an identified need to increase the overall tree cover. Requests from Council members and local residents for new trees in their streets or areas are taken into consideration within the planting programme and will be prioritised according to the number of trees already on the street, including those in front gardens and on adjacent land.

If a site where a tree was removed is suitable to support a new tree, the site may be replanted with a suitable tree species. Because the stump has to be removed and sufficient time needs to elapse to allow breakdown of residual underground root material, the process from removal to replanting may take up to 3-5 years. Replacement tree planting will only take place during the dormant season.

The principle of planting the ‘right tree in the right place’ will apply for all new and replacement tree planting. Trees will be selected for their appropriateness of scale and proportion to their surroundings and the aesthetic contribution they make to that environment.  Planting density and species selection will be guided by available space to ensure that each tree is compatible with its new site and has every opportunity to develop into a healthy mature specimen. 

Castle Park will be inspected for potential sites for tree planting , considering factors such as services, sight lines, warning signs and traffic signals, distance from public lighting columns, space for future crown and root growth, etc.

A list of suitable tree planting locations in Castle Park will be presented to the Area Committee in the 2021 Draft tree planting programme.