COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

MOTION NO.11

MOTION: Councillor Eoin Ó Broin

That this Area Committee agrees that specimen trees in public parks should be preserved with Tree Preservation Orders and outlines a plan for a mapping of specimen trees in Corkagh Park.

REPORT:

Legislation for a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) is set out in Section 205 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).

Section 205(1) of the Act states 'If it appears to the planning authority that it is expedient, in the interests of amenity or the environment, to make provision for the preservation of any tree, trees, group of trees or woodlands, it may, for that purpose and for stated reasons, make an order with respect to any such tree, trees, group of trees or woodlands as may be specified in the order.'

The trees within public parks are already being preserved by SDCC in line with the measures outlined in SDCC’s Tree Management Policy ‘Living with Trees; which was subject to public consultation and agreed by the council in 2022. This is the most expedient way of preserving and managing the trees within SDCC ownership. The recent works in the car park and depot area of Corkagh Park were subject to full public consultation and Part 8 planning permission. South Dublin County Council manage trees in public parks, open spaces and streets in accordance with SDCC’s Tree Management Strategy.

The Public Realm Section continually manage the trees and woodlands in Corkagh Park as the seasons evolve and the years pass.  There is a wide variety of tree habitats in existence within the park which includes specimen trees, mature woodlands, young woodland, hedgerow trees, tree avenues, tree groupings and an arboretum.

During routine tree management a visual survey conducted by staff identified several trees in the park that required arboriculture work.  To establish the full extent of work required an arborist was commissioned in 2021 to carry out a condition assessment of 119 individual trees.  The recommendations in the survey included a number of measures such as pruning, removal of dead/unstable growth, reduce crown size or remove the tree.  The works are required to minimise or help reduce potential hazards that are associated with these trees.  It is intended to carry out these works in the near future and Members will be advised of the works before they take place.

Further survey works of trees in the park, including specimen trees will be carried out once the recommendations of the existing tree survey have been addressed.