Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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136. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider introducing legislation for the resolution of problems associated with high hedges and trees, similar to provisions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which demonstrates a clear preference for the resolution of such disputes at local level, preferably by mediation, with recourse to the courts only as a last resort; if such legislation is intended to reduce the risk of prolonged and costly litigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16960/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Planning legislation places no specific restrictions on the height of trees, nor does it make any particular provision for remedy from any other nuisance which may be caused by trees in an urban residential area. However there is currently a civil remedy available concerning branches or roots of neighbouring treesencroaching on a person’s property.

The previous Minister of State for Housing and Planning wrote to the Minister for Justice in June 2012 to explore the possibility of providing a broader civil law remedy for parties affected by high trees and hedges on adjoining properties. In this regard, advice was sought on the possibility of legislative provision being made whereby a person substantially deprived of the enjoyment of their property, such as the deprivation of light caused by high trees on a neighbouring property, could apply to the Courts for an order, and that the Courts could make an order as they see fit, e.g. to cut the trees back to an appropriate height.

The Minister for Justice responded in July 2012 suggesting that disputes of this nature between neighbours could perhaps be more appropriately dealt with through mediation – which is being increasingly used internationally as a tool for the resolution of civil disputes - rather than through the Courts. In this regard, I understand that the Minister for Justice proposes to publish a Mediation Bill during 2015. Such mechanism, when introduced, should assist in speeding up the resolution of civil disputes of this nature, reduce legal costs and ameliorate the stress of contested court proceedings.