Weedkiller alternatives "too expensive" to be used in public areas

Any ban on the use of glyphosates - commonly used weed killers - by Kildare County Council will have to be phased in.

According to KCC banning the use of glyphosates will increase the cost of grass cutting - which already amounts to €250,000 a year - close to half the amount spent on parks and public area improvements.

Cllr Ide Cussen sought a ban at a county council meeting, but KCC’s Parks Superintendent Simon Wallace said that “there is no scope within existing staff or financial resources for this cost to increase.”

Mr Wallace said the council is already committed to the All-Ireland pollinator plan which aims to reduce the use of pesticides, alter grass cutting rotas and use alternative methods to weed control and reduce herbicide use. Pollinators generally refers to insects which carry pollen to fertilise plants.

He said it would be preferable to examine a work programme over a number of years to implement the programme initiatives.

KCC uses herbicides to control weed growth as part of grass maintenance work, mainly at roundabouts. Grass areas are sprayed three times from March to October and the spot treatment of roundabouts is done monthly.