Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 April 2023
332. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that no further reduction in viable agricultural land is conceded to the forestry industry or other sectors thus reducing the food production capacity of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18882/23]
View answerThe use to which private owned land is put is, subject to the law, a matter for the owners of that land.
As the Deputy is aware the Programme for Government committed to a land use review and the first phase of this review has just been completed. The review aims to balances environmental, social and economic conditions with land use and evolves a process of evaluation of the ecological characteristics of the land, consideration of emissions to air and water, carbon sequestration and climate adaption challenges.
Phase One was an evidential review which was led by the EPA and guided by a cross-governmental technical steering group, which included my Department. Phase one provides 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. A number of reports from Phase one have been published and are available for download.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/f272c-land-use-review-phase-1/.
A Memo for Government was recently brought forward which set out proposals for Phase 2. Officials from the relevant Government Departments are currently working to agree the scope, timelines and exact packages of work that need to be dealt with.
There are many demands on our land to deliver on the environment, on biodiversity and indeed contributing to our energy security including the critical importance of food production in terms of food security and the very important role it plays in rural livelihoods and the rural economy.
The importance of forestry and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere will play an important role in reducing emissions from the land use sector which is currently a net source of carbon dioxide. Decisions on land use are complex and Ireland has a target to increase forest cover from 11.6% to 18%. The new Forestry Programme which is currently being examined by the European Commission as part of the State Aid process aims to provide €1.3 billion in grants and supports for a wide range of measures. It is important to note that land use change to forestry is voluntary and it will be the land owner who will make the ultimate decision to plant trees. The land Use Review Phase 2 will now examine in more detail the policy decisions around how we use our land and I look forward to this next phase of the review.
