Data Centres

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 May 2022

Thursday, 19 May 2022

Ceisteanna (90)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

90. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 5 of 7 April 2022, the status of the work to revise the Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy; the number of times the working group has met to date; if minutes are taken at the meetings of the working group; if so, his plans to publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25366/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

There has been ongoing and regular engagement with many stakeholders including the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), Department of An Taoiseach, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Eirgrid, ESB Networks, Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, as we revise the Government’s statement on the role of data centres in our overall enterprise strategy. In addition, a working group has been established to help draft the final document, which met for the first time in March and will continue to meet over the coming weeks.

Minutes are taken at meetings of the working group.

This was one of my Department’s actions under the Climate Action Plan 2021 as part of our commitment to reach a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030. I intend to publish the revised statement by the end of Q2 this year.