Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 May 2022
407. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of Programme for Government commitments to complete a land use review ahead of the drafting of a land use strategy and a national soil strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27162/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government: 'Our Shared Future' committed to a land use review to ensure that optimal land use options inform all relevant government decisions. This land use evidence review is also noted in the Climate Action Plan published in (Nov 2021).
The review balances environmental social and economic conditions and will involve a process of evaluation of the ecological characteristics of the land, consideration of emissions to air and water, carbon sequestration and climate adaption challenges.
The review is being overseen by a Steering Committee co-chaired by my Department and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC). The steering committee is made up of representatives from my Department, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage) as well as independent nominees.
The Land use review is being carried out in two distinct phases:
Phase One is an evidential review which is being led by the EPA and is being guided by a cross-governmental technical steering group. Phase one aims to provide an evidence base to determine an appropriate land use indicator set for Ireland, as well as determining the environmental, ecological, and economic characteristics of land types across Ireland.
The EPA is working with Government Departments and public sector colleagues to assess the available evidence in the following areas:
- The impact of current land use on the environment and society
- The indicators we can use to measure land use impacts on environment and society
- The environmental and societal trends that will impact on land use
- Ireland’s land use stakeholders
- The commitments and targets in existing policy that impact on land use decisions
- Land use practices that have proven beneficial to environment and society
In summary, Phase one of the national Land Use Evidence Review will gather the data and evidence to report on the environmental, ecological, and socio-economic characteristics and considerations for land use and land-based activities across Ireland, including how they interact with each other, with a view to informing the Policy Development ambitions for Phase two of the Evidence Review. Phase one of the evidence review activity commenced in June 2021 and is scheduled to complete in Quarter 3 of 2022.
Building on the evidence base on Phase one, Phase two will identify appropriate policies measures and actions in the context of the governments wider economic, social and climate objectives.
The Programme for Government: Our Shared Future (2020) also committed to publish a National Soils Strategy. My Department will be engaging with other Government Departments and key stakeholders in order to progress the development of a National Soil Strategy in the coming months.
