Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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72. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the review of land use currently under way; the key findings of the work to date; and the implications for future policy development. [25194/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The 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 10^thMarch 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. Mapping and Design each have 9 unique recommendations with Mapping having a single recommendation.

In relation to Monitoring, the recommendation is to develop a national monitoring network for soils to increase knowledge of soil health indicators. While work is already taking place in this area more can be done in future to help our understanding of the role soils and soil management practices have in various land use scenarios.

In terms of Mapping, the report recommends that Ireland continues to build on advances in land mapping input data, technology and knowledge, and focuses on three areas: land-use mapping, soil mapping and ecosystem mapping.

It is clear that to make informed decisions with regard to land use we must have a strong evidence base on which to base policy design.

With regard to Design and application of evidence the report recommends the development of indicators across a number of areas to give policymakers and decision makers insight into the systems that are impacted by land use.

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.

As identified in Phase 1 there are key recommendations that must be built on to allow a coherent land use policy to be designed and implemented within the State.

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.

Phase 2 will also support the development of a LULUCF target which is due to be delivered by the end of this year.

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.