Data Centres

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020

Thursday, 30 July 2020

Questions (497)

Denis Naughten

Question:

497. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the discussions his officials have had with Gas Networks Ireland with regard to the development of data centres in line with the policy of locating them in areas with grid capacity and only in cases in which there is an employment dividend associated with their development; if an evaluation has been conducted by his Department of the estimated impact of all 55 current data centres and the over 30 planned data centres on the daily demand for natural gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20283/20]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case (including data centres) with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned, except in specific circumstances which do not apply in this case.

As majority-shareholding Minister of Ervia, I have the key decision-making role, including corporate governance responsibility, for Ervia and Gas Networks Ireland in relation to requests for approval on capital expenditure or borrowings by the company.  In this regard, NewERA is involved in the provision of financial and commercial advisory services.  There have been no discussions between my Department and Gas Networks Ireland with regard to the development of data centres, or any evaluation conducted on the impact in relation to the daily demand for natural gas in this context.  My colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment has responsibility for overall energy policy, including natural gas.