Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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65. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the criteria under which new data centres can be approved for connection and permitting; whether a long-term pathway for the development of the sector can be set out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41417/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Commission for Regulation of Utilities is an independent regulator responsible for electricity and gas connection policy and accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas. For an electricity connection offer to be made, developers must first apply for and receive planning permission from An Bord Pleanála, Ireland’s independent planning regulator, which is independent in its decision-making functions.

Once planning permission is received, the System Operators EirGrid and ESB Networks must consider any application from a data centre to connect to the electricity network against the strict assessment criteria set out in the CRU’s November 2021 Direction to the System Operators related to Data Centre grid connection processing.

There are current and real network constraints in facilitating new connections, particularly in Dublin. As a result, EirGrid has stopped new connections in Dublin until the transmission system in the region has been upgraded.

The CRU is reviewing its Large Energy Users connection policy. The aim of this review is to provide a new pathway for Large Energy Users to connect to the electricity and gas systems, minimising their impact on carbon emissions while also considering the capacity of our energy and grid infrastructure. A Proposed Decision Paper is expected in Q4 2024.

The July 2022 Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy outlines principles for sustainable data centre development, providing clear guidance to decision makers in the planning process and encouraging the data centre sector to implement decarbonised energy solutions and to increase efficiency.