Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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138. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking to ensure that data centres are regulated, ensuring that they are aligned with our climate goals. [5494/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is responsible for the regulation of the Irish electricity and natural gas sectors following enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and subsequent legislation and the Gas (Interim Regulation) Act 2002, respectively. The CRU is an independent regulator accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas.

As set out in the Climate Action Plan, the CRU is carrying out a review to consider the impact of future Large Energy User connections on both national carbon emissions and the capacity of our energy and grid infrastructure, providing clarity to industry on the requirements for new connections to the electricity and gas systems. A Large Energy Users Connection Policy Minded-To Decision Paper is expected shortly, with a consultation period to follow.

More broadly, Ireland has ambitious climate goals, and the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 has set Ireland on a legally binding path to net-zero emissions no later than 2050, and to a 51% reduction in emissions by the end of this decade.

In line with these goals, the Programme for Government recognises concerns regarding the sustainability of data centres and their alignment with our climate goals and commits to enhancing data centres’ use of renewable energy sources, energy efficient technology and effective solutions, such as waste heat capture to reduce their carbon footprint.

Additionally, the July 2022 Government Statement 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. This Statement expresses the Government’s preference for data centres that can demonstrate additionality of their renewable energy use in Ireland, and which are decarbonised by design.

Moreover, Article 12 of the Recast Energy Efficiency Directive provides an obligation for Member States to require owners and operators to monitor and report the energy performance of data centres and to make the information publicly available annually. The Department is preparing the necessary legislation and hopes to have this in place before the next reporting period deadline of 15 May 2025.