Green Party defends 'robot trees' amid criticism of cost and practicality

Cork City Council is planning to deploy up to four moss wall devices at strategic city sites

The moss wall device which is to be installed at locations across Cork city. Picture: Green City Solutions

Hi-tech ‘city tree’ devices which are set to be deployed on Cork’s street to improve air quality have been dismissed as "robot trees" and “a waste of public money”.

Labour Cllr John Maher led the criticism of the new ‘moss wall’ pilot project which was reported in yesterday’s Irish Examiner and said air quality can’t be solved by gimmicks.