A local Councillor has called on Laois County Council to carry out a survey of ash trees that are affected by the ash dieback, where they are located near public roads.
Ash dieback is a serious disease of ash trees caused by the invasive fungal pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, which originates in Asia and was brought to Europe in the early 90s
Cllr Paddy Bracken was speaking at the Borris-in-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District meeting this week.
The Fianna Fáil Cllr said the issue is causing very serious concerns for pedestrians and motorists alike, especially as the winter season is fast approaching.
Mr Paul McLoughlin, Senior Engineer for Roads said:
“Trees within private lands bounding the public r road are the responsibility of the respective landowner who is to ensure that they do not present a risk to the travelling public.
“Where Ash dieback is present the tress should be monitored on an annual basis and interventions undertaken as required.
“Should instances of dieback in trees immediately adjacent to a public road become known to Laois County Council they will correspond with the relevant landowner in the normal fashion where potentially dangerous tress are encountered.
“Laois County Council are currently preparing a Tree Management Policy for the county which will contain recommendations with regard to the management of ash dieback.”
Cllr Bracken said he was unimpressed with Mr McLoughlin’s response, saying there is a huge financial cost to the public if the council were not willing to intervene.
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