Many more trees likely to fall across Kildare - because half of them have disease

Kildare residents face the likelihood of many more tree falls - because so many of them are diseased.

A call for Kildare County Council to survey all roads in the greater Naas area every three years was made.

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It came from local councillor Fintan Brett who said it should be done “to identify and remove trees deemed to be at risk of falling, who added the landowners should be notified if they are on private property.

Cllr Brett told a Naas Municipal District committee meeting that four trees had fallen in the Johnstown area before Storm Bram and he said minor roads, which are likely to see tree falls, are now busier because of motorists seeking to avoid the congested main routes to and from Dublin.

Cllr Bill Clear said half of the trees in Ireland are diseased and he predicted that “trees will come down in moderate storms” in the future.

KCC said it cannot commit to a full survey of all roads every three years but it will “continue to monitor and address hazardous trees on a priority basis.

This will be done by “focusing on areas identified through routine inspections and reports from the public.”

KCC also pointed out that landowners are legally responsible for maintaining trees and vegetation on their property that may pose a risk to public roads. 

“Where trees are identified as hazardous and located on private property the council will notify the relevant landowners and advise that they take action to remove or maintain.”