COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM / TEMPLEOGUE / FIRHOUSE / BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

QUESTION NO. 1

QUESTION: Councillor Yvonne Collins

To ask the Chief Executive when it is intended to carry out badly needed pruning on overgrown non-native trees in Barton Road extension which have grown so tall that they overshadow the roofs of the houses and severely diminish the effectiveness of the solar panels on these south facing roofs.

REPLY:

The trees in question at Barton Road extension have been surveyed.  No immediate works have been deemed necessary however this area has been included along with Barton Road West on the 2022/'24 tree maintenance programme.

It should be noted that in relation to solar panels the Council's Tree Policy document 'Living with Trees' states that the Council will not prune or fell a Council owned/managed tree to facilitate installation or improve natural light to a solar panel. Whilst the Council appreciates that there is a need to provide renewable energy resources, trees have an important role in maintaining and improving local amenity, in addition to contributing to local and national targets in tackling climate change. The presence of existing trees and how these trees will grow in the future must be fully appreciated when considering a suitable location for the placement of solar panels.