COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 11, 2023

QUESTION NO. 24

QUESTION: Councillor L. Hagin Meade

To ask the Manager as to the location and protection of high quality/heritage trees in SDCC, including current efforts to map and protect said trees?

REPLY:

The Tree Council of Ireland have compiled a database of trees of biological, cultural, ecological or historical interest because of their age, size or condition.  The survey work was carried out in the period 2009 to 2011 and the resulting database is available through the National Biodiversity Data Centre. The objective of the survey was to develop a recording framework and produce a database to locate and record information on trees of heritage importance in Ireland in order to improve the accessibility, application and availability of this information for a wide range of uses.  It was envisaged that the compiled data would be a valuable aid to a variety of interests towards generating awareness and appreciation of trees and particularly in developing more informed policies about the future management and conservation of Ireland's Heritage Trees. Such interests include local authorities, planners, landscape architects, property developers, environmentalists, communities, conservation groups.  Furthermore, Heritage Trees suitably marked on site can be an added attraction for visitors to tourism areas.  This database is currently being examined to establish which trees, if any, in this County are included in it.

The Council is in the process of compiling it's own comprehensive database of trees within the County on the Arbortrack system, and this system enables us to identify trees of particular high quality or heritage value if required.  To date the surveying of trees has focussed on street trees, for the purpose of informing the Council's annual tree maintenance programme.  Once the surveys of street trees are completed the focus can then move to trees in parks and on open spaces, until the surveying exercise has been completed.  The main purpose of the Council's tree policy 'Living with trees' is to provide protection to all trees and to ensure that only those trees which are dying, diseased, unstable or causing damage to private property can be removed.  The Planning Authority also has the option to make a Tree Preservation Order to protect a tree or group of trees where it is considered to be in the interests of amenity or the environment to do so.  There are 4 such TPOs in place in South Dublin County at the present time.