COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

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

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

MOTION NO. 15

MOTION: Councillor W. Carey

That this Area Committee agrees that SDCC shall carry out an audit on the condition of trees within the Greenpark/St Johns area of Clondalkin. Following wind storms in Jan 24 and Jan 25 it has become clear that large trees within the area are extremely week and need to be addressed.

REPORT:

South Dublin County Council operates a 3-year rolling programme of tree maintenance.  In line with the Council's Tree Management Policy "Living With Trees", the focus of the Tree Maintenance Programme is on entire roads or whole estates. In addition to the planned whole estate and road programme, reactive and emergency works is carried out on individual trees as necessary in order to manage risks to the public. An emergency is defined as a tree that is in immediate and present danger of collapse or causing an obstruction requiring urgent attention. Emergency and reactive tree works will normally take priority over the planned programme of tree maintenance works.

Saint Johns estate Clondalkin was surveyed in 2019 and maintenance was completed in May 2022 as part of the 2020-2022 Tree Maintenance Programme. The estate is listed for inspection and maintenance as part of the 2026 - 2028 Tree Maintenance Programme. In the meantime, a visual  inspection of the trees  will be carried out to make sure there is no obvious dangerous or defective trees that required attention.  

In advance of commencing works within an estate or road, a full survey of all trees at the location is carried out to inform the programme and scheduling of tree maintenance. The survey involves an assessment of each tree’s health and condition and identifies the maintenance required, if any.  Any works scheduled for trees located in close proximity to overhead electricity wires will require to be undertaken by an arborist suitably qualified in the skills of utility arboriculture and approved by the ESB.