Limerick council offers communities €50 per km to cut hedges

LIMERICK City and County Council is offering up to €50 per km to cut hedges.

The local authority has launched the Community Hedge Cutting Grant Scheme for the 2025/26 season. 

A spokesperson said: “This initiative aims to support communities in maintaining clear and safe public roads by providing financial assistance for hedge cutting and tree trimming along public roadways.”

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Last month, The Irish Road Haulage Association called on local authorities to ensure that roadside hedges are cut back, in particular at busy junctions.

According to the hauliers, overgrown hedges are “blocking sightlines at junctions, obstructing road signs and causing more accidents on our rural road network”.  They also spoke of the cost of replacing wing mirrors damaged by overgrown hedges and protruding branches.

The council spokesperson said they recognise the growing need for effective roadside maintenance to ensure the safety and accessibility of our public roads. 

“Overgrown hedges and trees can pose significant hazards to motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, obstructing visibility and encroaching on roadways. 

“The Community Hedge Cutting Grant Scheme is designed to address these issues by empowering communities to take proactive measures in maintaining their local infrastructure,” said the spokesperson.

The cutting season runs from September 1 to the last day of February. Application closing date is September 30, 2025.

Priority will be given to roads used by school buses, public transport, and special needs services.

The grants are based on actual length of hedging/trees that require cutting, not total road length. If both sides require cutting, the length is doubled for grant calculation. See limerick.ie for application form and more information.