Galway farmers call for pilot scheme to deal with dangerous roadside trees

Farmers in Co. Galway, in the west of Ireland, are asking their local authority to set up a pilot scheme to deal with dangerous trees overhanging public roads. The request came out of a meeting in Loughrea on Wednesday, 5 November, organised by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), the country's farm representative organisation.

Advice for landowners

The meeting heard from Conrad Harley of Galway County Council, who gave landowners practical guidance on removing dangerous roadside trees safely. He advised farmers to hire registered, reputable contractors for tree felling and, wherever possible, to carry out the work from inside the farm rather than from the public road. If the work affects a road, a suitable traffic management plan must be in place to protect both workers and road users.

Willie Storan of FBD Insurance outlined the insurance and liability issues farmers face when doing such work. He stressed the need for adequate insurance cover and said farmers should check that their liability cover is appropriate and that they understand their responsibilities before starting.

Call for a pilot project

Local county councillors also spoke, and the role of An Garda Síochána, Ireland's police service, was discussed from the perspectives of farm safety and wider public safety. The main outcome was a call for Galway County Council to consider a pilot project in which the council would take charge of managing traffic and overseeing the safe removal of dangerous trees identified by landowners across the county.

Galway IFA county chair Micheál Haverty, who chaired the meeting, believes such a scheme would offer a practical, coordinated approach to a problem that is becoming increasingly serious for farmers and rural communities. He said the initiative would need financial support from central government to be delivered effectively.

Attendees also agreed on the need for a national lobbying campaign to secure funding and support for a coordinated approach to dangerous roadside trees across the country.

The issue has become more urgent because of recent storms and the spread of ash dieback, a tree disease, which have significantly increased the number of potentially dangerous trees along public roads. Farmers are concerned about their responsibilities and potential liabilities where mature trees on their land pose a risk.