Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

40. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to assess the water and energy requirements for data centres; his views on the impact on water and energy provision in cities, towns and villages in which there is a data centre nearby; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41455/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department does not have any function in the assessment of water and energy requirements for specific data centre projects. This would be a matter for the individual data centre applicant and the relevant planning authority in their assessment of such applications, and the interaction between a prospective data centre and Irish Water and EirGrid. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is Ireland’s independent energy and water regulator. Under Section 34 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, the CRU has the power to issue directions to the system operators. In June 2021, CRU published a proposed Direction to the System Operators related to Data Centre grid connection, for consultation. This included a number of options for managing data centre connection demand. A final decision will be issued by the Regulator in due course.