Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 March 2021
2. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether the development of data centres would be better served by State involvement to ensure they align with economic, social and environmental goals and provide a return to the Exchequer other than development levels and commercial rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12362/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has one of Europe’s largest clusters of data centres as a stable energy grid, temperate climate and significant skills base makes Ireland an attractive country for this form of investment. Data centres are an increasingly important part of the digital and communications sectors and are core infrastructure in the remote working and digital services economy. The 2018 Government Statement on Data Centres sets out the strategic importance of data centres to Ireland’s overarching enterprise policy and their role in attracting employment and investment to Ireland within the technology sector while it also sets out the challenges posed by the increased energy demand and steps to mitigate this.
The State's planning system, at local level or through An Bord Pleanala, is the mechanism used to ensure that all industrial developments are consistent with our national policy as set out in the National Planning Framework and other strategic policy documents. The planning process incorporates public consultation processes and, where appropriate, environmental impact assessment, to ensure that development is consistent with the relevant regulations and national policy more broadly. Data centres in particular require detail engagement with the electricity grid connection process, managed by Eirgrid, to ensure they are consistent with our energy systems capacity.
Data centres have an economic return in that they are an increasingly important part of the digital and communications sectors and are core infrastructure in the remote working and digital services economy. They also are significant capital intensive investments that act as a hook for further investment and job creation. Around 20,000 direct jobs in the Irish economy are supported by those who operate large data centre infrastructure here. The wider technology sector in Ireland employs in excess of 150,000 people.
