Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. The Department of the Taoiseach established a high level working group, comprising representatives of the relevant Departments, on this issue earlier in the year. The group is examining the many cross-departmental policy issues associated with these projects. My Department is represented on the group and we are bringing the enterprise development perspective and related analysis to the group to aid its discussions. The group will seek to develop a strategic national policy approach to the development of such projects in the future in Ireland. It is examining, among other things, the possible designation of areas suitable for the development of data centres and the identification and resolution of planning issues and infrastructural requirements related to such investments. My predecessor, the former Tánaiste, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, has with the Taoiseach already brought an update on the issues raised by the group to Cabinet. We are determined to ensure that these issues are dealt with as quickly as possible. The Deputy mentioned an infrastructure court. If these data centres are designated as strategic infrastructure, which I understand is the plan, that would speed up the planning process.