Ireland’s land is under growing pressure from climate targets, food production, biodiversity loss and housing needs. The new gov.ie publication on the Land Use Review Phase 2 brings those competing priorities into one national conversation through a major report titled A Living Land.
Published by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment together with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the report is designed to support better long-term decisions on how land is used across the State. It is not a new government policy, but an evidence-based resource for policymakers, public bodies, farmers and landowners as Ireland works toward a climate-neutral economy by 2050.
Land Use Review Phase 2: What the report says
The second phase of the Land Use Review follows an earlier evidence-gathering process completed in 2023 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This new phase was overseen by an independent chair, former department secretary general Geraldine Tallon, before being submitted to ministers responsible for Climate Action, Agriculture and Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The report examines how Irish land can meet multiple needs at once, including:
- food production and rural livelihoods
- climate mitigation and adaptation
- biodiversity restoration
- water quality improvement
- heritage and cultural value
- socio-economic development
It recognises that land use choices will be increasingly shaped by extreme weather, including floods, storms and droughts, and says nature-based solutions at landscape scale will be critical to resilience.
Why public and private land both matter
One of the standout messages in the Land Use Review is that public land can play a stronger leadership role. The report points to examples such as peatland rehabilitation and native afforestation, including progress supported by public programmes. At the same time, it stresses that about 80% of land in Ireland is privately owned, meaning farmers and other landholders remain central to any realistic transition.
That balance is especially important for departments and agencies involved in Climate Action, Agriculture, Housing, Heritage and Local Government, as well as bodies such as the EPA, Tailte Éireann and the Office of Public Works (OPW), which all have a role in evidence, mapping or land management.
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New taskforce and mapping work to guide future Land Use Review actions
A key outcome of the Land Use Review is the planned creation of a Land Use Taskforce. It will be co-chaired at assistant secretary level by the climate and agriculture departments, with participation from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and other relevant public bodies.
Its job will be to examine how the State can optimise land use to serve a range of public goals, from nature restoration and water quality to economic resilience and climate adaptation. The work is expected to align closely with broader government planning under the Department of the Taoiseach and cross-department efforts involving Finance, Public Expenditure and Rural and Community Development.
Better data for better decisions
The report also highlights the need for stronger geospatial mapping and data coordination. Building on tools such as the National Land Cover Map and Forestry Opportunities Map, the review recommends continued work through a land evidence forum to improve fine-grained land knowledge.
This aligns with the wider role of the CSO, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), An Bord Pleanála and other State bodies that support planning, environmental monitoring and public policy.
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Supporting reports behind A Living Land
The Land Use Review Phase 2 was informed by four supporting documents, including EPA reports on public land, private finance and barriers to agricultural land use change, as well as a commissioned history of land use in Ireland. Together, they add depth to a debate that affects farming, enterprise, conservation and community planning nationwide.
For readers tracking developments on gov.ie, this publication signals a more coordinated approach to how Irish land can serve both people and planet. The clearest takeaway from the Land Use Review is that future land decisions will need better evidence, stronger cooperation and practical support for those managing the land every day.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
