Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 April 2023
100. 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. [16916/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government (PfG): 'Our Shared Future' committed to a land use review to ensure that optimal land use options inform all relevant government decisions. This land use review is also outlined in the Climate Action Plan 2021.
The review was designed to be carried out in two distinct phases. Phase 1 was an evidential review and the Phase 1 report, which was published on 10th March 2023, has collated evidence about a wide range of land use issues, including about stakeholders, existing policy and environmental, social and economic characteristics of land use.
Included in the report are 10 documents and 19 individual recommendations across three distinct themes; Mapping capability, Design and application of evidence and Monitoring.
Phase 2 of the land use review will build on the outcomes of Phase 1 and will, in consultation with all stakeholders and land users, go on to consider the policies, measures, and actions which will need to be taken — in the context of the Government’s wider economic, social and climate objectives.
Phase 2 will be jointly led by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (or the Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform) and myself. Currently officials from our respective Departments are engaging on the details of Phase 2, including timelines and specific deliverables.
Separately the PfG committed to publish a National Soils Strategy that will assess all appropriate soil health parameters and will inform future policies on good soil management practices. This will require consultation and engagement with stakeholders and will be delivered by my Department working in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC).
The pilot Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme that my Department has developed concluded recently and I will launch a second phase of the Programme later this year. Information arising from this Programme will feed into the National Soil Strategy along with Ireland’s response to the proposed EU Soil Health Law. I anticipate the Commission will present their proposals in that regard in the coming months.
It is clear that land use and soil are closely related and hence I expect both the Land Use Review and the National Soil Strategy which is due to be developed will need to be aligned to ensure consistency in policy development.
I am acutely aware of the sensitives related to this and I will continue to engage closely with farmers and their representatives on the matter.
