Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy
Engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities
2:00 am
Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
I want to ask about another crisis the country is facing. A report commissioned by the CRU recently states ESB Networks has highlighted a risk whereby in the absence of an adequate policy response, the potential level of data centre demand could significantly impact its ability to accommodate demand for connections required to support Government policy targets, such as in housing. Is it the belief of the CRU that data centres are seizing electricity capacity that is meant for new homes? We passed the 5,000 mark in the number of children who are homeless. Does the CRU believe data centres are increasing demand and seizing electricity that was meant to be for housing?
No comments