Fears that high costs will drive landowners to risky removal of dying trees

The problem of ash die back is only going to get worse, and help needs to be put in place now.

That was the message of Cllr Jimmy Brogan (Ind), who told the January meeting of the Municipal District of Donegal that lack of grants would lead to unqualified people removing diseased trees. This in turn would pose risks to life, property and the electricity network.

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Cllr Brogan put down the following motion at the meeting: “To ask this Municipal District to contact the relevant government departments to seek funding to remove ash trees along the roadside and to assist households in removing ash trees which are in a dangerous condition due to ash dieback disease. All ash trees will be affected and will have to be removed safely as soon as possible because they are a threat to life and property.”

In a written response to the motion, Donegal County Council stressed that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said that landowners were responsible for trees on their property and those on adjacent roadsides. Furthermore, landowners have a legal obligation to take all reasonable steps to ensure that trees or other vegetation on their land are not a hazard. 

Cllr Brogan outlined to the meeting that ash dieback disease was first detected in Ireland in 2012. It will eventually kill 90% of ash trees, the most prevalent species of tree in the country. 

“The farmers and landowners are liable for any trees growing on their property,” he said. “But we have situations where it is not fully known who owns it, or where there is no engagement with the landowner.

“This is going to be a massive problem. Storms are getting more plentiful and severe. We saw parts of Leitrim where the power was out for a week in the last storm. Ash trees contributed to that.”

The councillor said costs for removal of ash trees - which can reach 30m in height - ranged from a few  hundred to thousands of Euros.

“What will happen if there is no grant available?” he asked. 

“People who are not qualified will risk taking trees down themselves. They will fall on property, on electricity wires. 

“We need to get ahead of this problem. It needs to be done properly.”

The motion was seconded by Cllr Manus Boyle (FG) who said: “Anything to do with safety and people being cut off, we need to be on top of it. 

“We need to get ahead of the problem on this and get something in place so tree surgeons can remove them before it is too late.”

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