SOCIAL Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan wants to see at least six week intervals for verge cutting in line with local and national biodiversity policies.
This motion, she told members of the Metropolitan District, came from a number of concerned residents living in Raheen and Dooradoyle about the lack of greening.
Cllr O’Donovan said road verges and green spaces play an important role in reversing the decline of biodiversity in the city in recent decades.
“This is something that is done in other parts of Ireland, where I know that councils have extended the intervals for verge cutting. Obviously, it’s only in places where it won’t be a risk, on road verges and things like that. You have to cut if there’s ever going to be an issue with road safety,” Cllr O’Donovan explained.
Cllr Shane Hickey-O’Mara (SD) seconded the motion and warned that if we don’t protect our biodiversity “we are goosed”.
“We need to do everything we can for hedgehogs, birds, and insect population, because if we lose them everything breaks down.”
Independent councillor Maria Donoghue also added her support, saying that Ireland’s biodiversity has decreased a further two per cent in the last three years.
“Small, simple things like this cost nothing and are a very easy way to support biodiversity and make the world a more beautiful place to be in. Nobody complains about having more nature around them. We all benefit it, from our mental health. Our species benefit from it,” she said.