As confirmed on the DAFM website (FAQ page), horticultural production is included within the Agriculture Essential Business List. Activities may include the ongoing seasonal planting, harvest and maintenance of horticulture plants.
So where does landscaping sit within that list? Ross Carew, Executive Secretary, ALCI, discusses the current situation for landscape contractors.
“Since the lockdown restrictions were introduced, the ALCI has been lobbying Government seeking clarity as to what landscaping activities can be carried out during the restrictions,” says Ross. “Via the DAFM and Bord Bia, we made some progress and were able to issue current guidelines to our members, along with safe working protocols to follow during this crisis.
“The big topic that is leading to a deluge of calls and emails to the ALCI office concerns landscape maintenance. The Government has designated golf course maintenance as an essential service and Councils are instructing contracted landscapers to continue cutting grass in public spaces and parks. Many landscapers are asking why they cannot carry out maintenance for their housing estate, apartment block, private garden clients, particularly when many people are cocooned and looking out at grass and hedging, etc getting longer. “At the time of writing, this does not seem to be deemed an essential service. We have tried repeatedly to get clarification on this and have contacted the Taoiseach requesting that landscape maintenance be designated an essential service in the expectation these restrictions will be extended for several more weeks, if not longer. The longer these restrictions last, the greater the problems it will lead to in restoring landscapes once they are over.”
Ross concludes, “We will continue our efforts to raise this with the Government.”
