The five CityTree devices were installed at a cost of €350,000 with annual maintenance expected to cost €2,000.
Already the robot trees have had fast food thrown at them and posters have been stuck to them highlighting how 475,000 school meals could have been bought with the money spent on the trees.
Cork City Council has defended the cost saying the CityTrees will combat fine dust particle pollution and other pollution associated with traffic pollution.
Director of operations at the Council’s David Joyce, said the littering and postering will be dealt with as part of the regular round of routine maintenance of public infrastructure.
