Ireland has published a major new land-use report that could shape how the country thinks about farming, climate action, biodiversity and rural development for decades to come. The gov.ie publication of A Living Land, the final report of Land Use Review Phase 2, marks an important step in building the evidence base for future decisions on how land is managed across the State.
Issued by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, the report completes a commitment under the Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future. It follows Phase 1 of the review, which focused on evidence gathering and was completed in 2023 under the leadership of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
gov.ie publishes final Land Use Review Phase 2 report
The new report, titled A Living Land, was prepared by an Oversight Group chaired independently by Geraldine Tallon. It was submitted to Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon, and Minister of State at Housing, Local Government and Heritage Christopher O’Sullivan before being considered at Government level.
Crucially, the report is not a new government policy and has not been formally adopted as one. Instead, it is designed to support future policymaking by setting out evidence, scenarios and options around land use in Ireland.
- It maps current land-use patterns
- It examines competing demands on land
- It explores pathways toward a climate-neutral economy by 2050
- It considers environmental, social and economic outcomes together
The findings are likely to be relevant across multiple public bodies and departments, including Climate Action, Agriculture, Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Health, Social Protection, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), CSO and Office of Public Works (OPW).
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Why A Living Land matters for Ireland
Land remains one of Ireland’s most valuable and limited resources. The report highlights the central role land plays in supporting the agri-food sector, which contributes about €21 billion in exports, while also sustaining biodiversity, water quality, heritage and community life.
According to the review, Ireland’s future land decisions must balance several pressures at once:
- Sustainable food production
- Climate mitigation and adaptation
- Nature restoration and biodiversity protection
- Improved water and air quality
- Socio-economic resilience in rural communities
This makes the report relevant not only to farmers and landowners, but also to policymakers working across gov.ie departments, the Revenue Commissioners, the National Transport Authority (NTA), the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), the Department of the Taoiseach and wider Finance and Public Expenditure structures that influence long-term national planning.
What ministers said
Minister Darragh O’Brien said the report adds meaningfully to the national discussion on how Ireland can use land more effectively while meeting climate and economic goals. Minister Martin Heydon stressed that farmers are key stewards of the land and pointed to examples such as ACRES Cooperation as evidence of multifunctional land use already in practice.
Proposal for a national land use governance framework
One of the most significant recommendations in A Living Land is the creation of a national land use governance framework. The report says this could help Government better align existing policies and improve coordination between departments and agencies.
It proposes a Land Use Taskforce co-chaired by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with input from Housing, Local Government and Heritage and other relevant bodies.
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Supporting papers published alongside the main report include EPA fast-track reports on public lands, private finance, barriers to land-use change, and a commissioned history of land use in Ireland.
What happens next
The publication on gov.ie does not create immediate new rules, but it does provide a detailed framework for future debate. For Ireland, the core message is clear: land policy can no longer be viewed through a single lens. Decisions will need to reflect climate targets, agriculture, biodiversity and rural livelihoods at the same time. As the gov.ie land-use conversation develops, A Living Land is likely to become a key reference point for Government, industry and communities alike.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
