Data Centres

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 June 2022

Wednesday, 22 June 2022

Ceisteanna (9)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

9. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of data centres connected to the national grid; the number of new data centre applications presently approved for connection by Commission for Regulation of Utilities; if the Minister will seek clarification from the CRU on whether new rules on connecting data centres apply only to new data centre applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33219/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The management of connections to the electricity grid is a matter for the system operators, EirGrid and ESB Networks, under rules determined by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which is an independent statutory body and solely accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas for the performance of its functions. The matters raised in the Question relate both to the statutory function of CRU and the statutory role of EirGrid and is not a matter in which I have any role or function.Furthermore, I understand that the CRU has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at [e-mail].