Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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83. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will develop a national land use strategy to address, amongst other things, the concerning lack of land availability for afforestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18352/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government in 2020 committed to a national land use review which includes all land types such as farmland, forests, and peatlands. The review aims to examine the optimal land use choices which will help contribute to and inform policy. The review aims to balance environmental, social, and economic considerations. It also includes consideration of emissions to air and water, carbon sequestration, and climate adaptation challenges.

The Land Use Review is being delivered in a two-phase approach.

The first phase of the Land-use Review was led by Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and focused on evidence gathering. This was completed in March 2023. The final report consists of 10 documents and 19 recommendations and are all publicly available on the gov.ie website.

assets.gov.ie/246678/989cae78-87c1-49ab-99d7-7e02192de089.pdf

The second phase, approved by Government on 7 March 2023, follows on from the first phase, and is currently in progress. It will further develop the knowledge, analysis and shared understanding necessary for considering how Ireland’s land can be used in a way that meets the Government objectives. These objectives include improving socioeconomic, climate, biodiversity, water, and air quality outcomes. As in phase one, this is a review of Ireland’s land use, not the formulation of a land use strategy. The Land Use Review’s ambition is to reach a point where we have the tools, polices and structures in place to manage land in a manner that meets the environmental and socio-economic demands made of land. It will also allow us to manage the land to ensure that current and future generations of land users and communities thrive and are more resilient in the face of change. At the heart of the review is recognition of the very significant role of farmers and farm families.

The availability of land for different activities, including forestry, depends on a wide variety of factors. Afforestation is a voluntary land use choice and in order to meet a national forestry cover objective of 18% of the land area, it will require over 450,000 ha of agricultural land to be afforested. However it is important to note that although my Department provides a range of attractive financial incentives by way of grants and premiums for afforestation, it is ultimately the decision of the landowner to decide on making a land use change to forestry. The Land Use Review will consider the amount of land available for a range of land uses and will also be an important reference point when considering the future of land use in Ireland and the schemes we develop.