Cork City Council has been defending its decision to install 5 new robot trees in the city centre, at a cost of €350,000 per year.
The council says the trees are part of its environmental strategy to tackle pollution in the city.
The devices come with a 40 inch TV screen showing air quality and an inbuilt chair, to provide street furniture.
Head of Operations at Cork City Council David Joyce explains how they work.
"It takes particles of matter, dust in effect, that comes out from internal combustion engines in vehicles and from burning of fossil fuels.
"It captures that in the fronds of the moss, the moss for want of a better word eats the dust, and therefore cleans 80% of the dust out of the air."
