Data Centres
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-22
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Peter Burke (FG), Longford-Westmeath

I thank both Deputies for their responses. Critically, as I pointed out in my earlier contribution, our report was not a cost-benefit analysis. It was principally about the added economic value that data centres would bring to the economy, or not. We had a gap in evidence in relation to their economic value. We have a body of evidence from the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, the CRU, EirGrid and the Environmental Protection Authority, EPA, in relation to grid capacity, electricity demand, emissions and all those areas, and it is intended to offer a view on the economic analysis. There is a gap in this regard, and it is an area where the Government should have impartial evidence to make a determination. It was not, therefore, a cost-benefit analysis.
As I outlined in my opening contribution, in the context of reports that come from the Department, there are steering committees, terms of reference and a responsibility to ensure that reports meet the terms of reference as required by the Department. All the methodology, assumptions and quality assurance have to be stood over by KPMG. That is key.
In relation to demand and competing interests, I am very much aware that there are huge challenges with data centres, particularly in the context of grid capacity. That is why I changed the rules. In the context of our large energy user plan, I said very clearly that any new data centres will need to use 80% renewable energy. That is going to drive forward our renewable energy transition. If we are going to breathe life into the five projects on the east coast, which will produce a total of 5 GW, we are going to need large energy users. Critically, to finance the projects, we are going to need the money and the opportunities that present in this regard, both of which are key. We are also very clear that for the security of the grid, data centres must have 100% of their demand in dispatchable energy generation on site. Again, this builds up resilience in the system. As I have pointed out previously, we have an opportunity to book value for our citizens in energy that is utilised through data centres and to build resilience in the digital economy. I know that there are challenges. We are mitigating those challenges by having a strong policy response.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-22