Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Let us be clear: households are not subsidising data centres. All users of our electricity grid contribute to its development. The CRU, as the independent regulator, ensures costs are fairly and proportionally allocated. In fact, extra large energy users, including data centres, have seen network costs increase in recent years compared with those for domestic customers. Price review 6 is a great opportunity. Transmission costs for data centres are expected to stabilise and reduce, reflecting the reversal of recent increases linked to security of supply. It is important to have that balance, as I said earlier. Housing is the Government’s number one priority. That is reflected in the national development plan where we have allocated more than €35 billion over the next decade to housing, while also understanding the need for other key infrastructure, such as energy and water infrastructure. That is why the national development plan has been published and is very much focused around programme for Government commitments.

See this speech in context