Caitríona McClean Fianna Fáil Local Election candidate in Lucan, has said South Dublin County Council’s policy on tree management, *‘Living with
Trees 2015-2020’* needs to take into consideration the experiences of residents dealing with the issues caused by tree sap. Caitríona said, “South Dublin County Council has responsibility for the management of trees in public spaces which often includes housing estates. Some species of trees such as Sycamore, produce high levels of sap and are an issue for those living in several housing estates in Lucan. They may seem useful for shade in large landscapes, but they drip an excessive amount of sap.
“Last summer there were restrictions put in place to preserve water in light of the unusually hot weather. As a consequence, there was no way for motorists to get the sticky substance off their windscreen in order to drive safely or remove it to prevent rust. “Fianna Fáil has set out a commitment in its Dublin Manifesto as published today, to double the number of trees in Dublin city and county to move towards a greener capital. I very much support this initiative and that is why I believe that unsuitable trees like sycamore should be replaced with more appropriate species.
“The Council do not list sycamore as a suitable tree for planting in housing estates and it is unfortunate that these trees were planted decades ago when these problems were not acute. “Soap and water won’t always be a viable solution and especially if we are to face water restrictions again this summer. Replacing the trees that are causing the most problems for residents would be the most sensible thing to do in the longer term but the issue as a whole needs to be reviewed under the Council’s existing policy.”
