Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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15. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware of concerns raised by the Climate Change Advisory Council on islanded data centre policy, specifically the connection of 11 new islanded data centres to the network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50249/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am aware of letter of the 16 October 2023 from the Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council responding to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action, in relation to data centres. My Department, in conjunction with other relevant Departments and agencies where appropriate, will consider the recommendations of the Council.

The Government Statement on the role of data centres in Ireland's Enterprise Strategy, published in July 2022 seeks to enable the 'twin transitions' of digitalisation and decarbonisation of our economy and society. These transitions can - and must be - complementary. For this to happen, digital and climate change policies need to move in tandem.

My Department is working with other relevant Departments and Agencies to implement the July 2022 statement, including identifying what additional measures, if any, may be needed to facilitate this.

In line with July 2022 statement, I wrote to Gas Networks Ireland(GNI) in relation to islanded data centres, setting out that it would not be appropriate for GNI to sign any more contracts to connect data centres to the gas network where the data centre would be powered mainly by on-site fossil fuel generation. Following this, GNI paused these applications for data centre gas connections. In cases where GNI already has contracts formally agreed, I understand from GNI that it is contractually obliged to connect them.

The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is leading a review of gas and electricity connection policies for new Large Energy Users to ensure that any new connections are not causing energy security challenges and are in line with our sectoral emission ceilings. Following the review, the CRU will publish new decisions on the rules for future gas connections of large energy users.