Tree touching power lines in Ireland: who is responsible

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It covers the Republic of Ireland and the ESB's own pages. Other line owners and Northern Ireland are not covered.

What the Act says

Section 98 of the Electricity (Supply) Act 1927, in the Law Reform Commission's revised text, was substituted on July 14, 1999 by the Electricity Regulation Act 1999. The revised Act is marked up to date with all changes known to be in force as of September 17, 2026. The section says:

the ESB, an authorised undertaker, or the holder of an authorisation or direct line permission under the 1999 Act may lop or cut any tree, shrub or hedge that obstructs or interferes with its electrical wires, or with erecting or laying them or surveying a proposed route, taking due care and attention to avoid unnecessary damage;
before doing so it gives seven days notice of its intention to the occupier of the land, or, for a road or street, to the local authority in charge of it;
the occupier or local authority may tell it within those seven days that they want to do the lopping or cutting themselves;
when an occupier cuts or lops under the section, the expense is paid to the occupier on demand by the ESB or other holder, and if the amount is not agreed it is fixed by an arbitrator appointed by the Commission for Electricity Regulation.

On amendments, the Irish Statute Book list of amendments for the Act, updated to September 17, 2026, records the 1999 substitution of section 98.

What ESB Networks says about cutting

The ESB Networks page tree cutting assessment says that where trees or vegetation to be cut are within 6 meters of electricity wires or equipment, a free assessment can be requested through an ESB Networks online account. It says a tree cutting crew arranges to assess the location within 4 to 6 weeks, and that the assessment decides whether the timber is cut by the customer or by ESB Networks.

Where the work is the customer's responsibility, the page says ESB Networks works with the customer's contractor, and that this may involve a planned outage, free of charge if adequate notice is given and the work is carried out between 9.00 and 16.30, Monday to Friday. It says traffic management costs are not covered.
Where the work is ESB Networks' responsibility, it says the work is scheduled as part of its tree cutting programme, and that winter weather may cause delay.
Its frequently asked questions say there is no charge to the owner for essential tree cutting. They say that for specimen trees an owner can use their own tree surgeon at the owner's own cost, after contacting ESB Networks, and that trees or branches within 6 meters of the network are not to be cut by the owner or a tree surgeon.

The ESB Networks answer on what happens to the timber says that timber cut by ESB Networks within the close proximity zone for the voltage of the line is removed by ESB Networks if the customer wishes, and that the landowner is responsible for removing timber cut outside that zone.

The ESB Networks trimming programme

The ESB Networks leaflet tree and vegetation trimming says ESB Networks runs a trimming programme on a cyclic basis depending on the line type and voltage, using contracted tree cutting companies trained to work near power lines. It asks landowners not to plant fast-growing trees directly under wires. For a hazardous tree it says to phone 1800 372 757 for advice before attempting to cut it or hiring a contractor, and for a tree that has fallen on a wire or is leaning across one it gives the 24 hour emergency number, 1800 372 999.

What the sources leave out

The Act sets the seven days notice but not who pays for the work when the ESB itself does it. The ESB Networks pages say there is no charge for essential tree cutting. Neither text gives a fee schedule or a deadline for the ESB to finish once an assessment has decided the work is its own.

Who to call

ESB Networks emergency line, 1800 372 999: a fallen wire, or a tree leaning across a wire, per the ESB Networks leaflet
ESB Networks, 1800 372 757: advice about a hazardous tree near wires, per the ESB Networks leaflet; the free tree cutting assessment is requested through an ESB Networks online account
Your local authority: receives the seven days notice for a tree on a road or street, under section 98