Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2018
269. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will request the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to initiate a survey through the local authorities in order that all trees that are adjacent to roads and affected by ash dieback are felled by those responsible due to the spread of ash dieback nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44030/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department conducts systematic and targeted plant health surveys in relation to Ash Dieback on an annual basis. These include a targeted survey of forestry plantations, a systematic survey of National Forest Inventory points across the country as well as surveys in commercial nurseries, garden centres, private gardens, roadside / motorway landscaping plantings and farm landscaping / agri-environment scheme plantings.
A general Guidance note on the recognition of Dangerous Trees is available from my Department. However, the initiation of any survey of all trees adjacent to roads is an operational matter for the bodies responsible for the respective roads, which in the case of public roads are by and large the local Roads Authorities and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, and the relevant Ministers. Furthermore, Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended, affords powers to deal with any trees which pose a hazard or potential hazard to persons using a public road or which obstruct or interfere with the safe use of public roads or with the maintenance of public roads to those Roads Authorities.
