Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1223. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider advocating for a ban on data centre construction in areas of high housing need (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19404/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Lead policy responsibility for the development of data centres as core digital infrastructure is held by my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. My Department engages on an ongoing basis with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment with regard to the development of planning policy and legislation which is of relevance to data centre development, including, for example, the preparation of the Draft Revised National Planning Framework. Further to the finalisation of the NPF Revision process, the regional assemblies and planning authorities will be required to review and update their strategies and plans to be consistent with the update policy framework provided by the Revised NPF, including in relation to accounting for updated population and housing projections.

The making or varying of a county or city development plan, including the provision for housing objectives to account for housing need, is a reserved function of the elected members of a local authority in their capacity as planning authority under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act). The statutory Development Plan Guidelines for Planning Authorities published under section 28 of the Planning Act in July 2022, give further guidance to planning authorities and specifically require the undertaking of a Settlement Capacity Audit (SCA) as part of the plan review process.

The SCA requires an infrastructural assessment of lands within and adjacent to settlements as a key research input to the settlement strategy formulation process. This infrastructural assessment must include road access; footpath access; cycle access; foul sewerage drainage; water supply and surface water drainage.

Specifically, with regard to water infrastructure, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own internal governance structures.