At a recent meeting of South Dublin County Council (SDCC), Tallaght representative Cllr. Charlie O’ Connor requested reassurances for tree and grass cutting works to be carried out during the current situation. The question reads “To ask the CEO to give assurances that everything possible is being done to carry out promised works in the Tree and Grass Cutting Programmes during these difficult times; will he appreciate the interest of communities in these matters and make a statement?”
In a detailed reply SDCC Management said “The Covid 19 restrictions have impacted on the delivery of the tree maintenance programme as the focus of Public Realm staff during the lockdown period was on cleansing operations and grass cutting. However since the easing of restrictions, tree maintenance work has resumed. In addition, contractors have been engaged to work on areas where there are dangerous trees, utility services, estates that were on 2017-29 tree programme but are not yet done and trees in one-off locations which need to be attended to but are not on the approved tree programme. Work completed to end August includes 1,216 trees pruned and 310 trees removed, 994 trees were planted in early 2020 and 2,529 trees have been surveyed. The reorganisation of the tree maintenance operation and the engagement of contractors will continue for the remainder of the year in order to accomplish greater tree maintenance results. It is expected that the target of 4,000 trees to be pruned or removed will be achieved by year end.
During the period of Covid 19 restrictions from March to June many of the Council’s Public Realm maintenance staff were on reduced working hours in order to ensure that social distancing could be achieved in the workplace and in operational depots. A decision was taken to deploy the majority of available resources at the time to cleansing, grass cutting and burial ground maintenance tasks. By the end of June/early July grass cutting around the county had achieved a high standard and this was helped by the fine weather through the months of April and May. From late June staff have been assigned to other tasks which had been on hold during the second quarter, as well as to grass cutting and cleansing. Unfortunately the slow down in grass growth that is normally experienced in Q3 each year did not materialise this year. Grass continued to grow strongly in July and August due to a very high level of rainfall (rainfall in July was twice the average of the previous 4 years) combined with high temperatures, this had the effect of slowing the grass cutting operation which in turn presents difficulties in meeting the target frequencies and required standards. Grass is continuing to grow in early October with day time temperatures remaining around 13 or 14 degrees. Temperatures can be expected to drop during the month of October and this will lead to a slow down in grass growth. All available staff and machinery have been assigned to the grass cutting programme and every effort is being made to achieve the target frequencies as in previous years.”
