Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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303. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a data centre powered by gas powered generators offsite connected via a private wire as was suggested in recent media reports (details supplied) would be considered an 'islanded data' centre, and would be consistent with the Government statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy position that islanded data centres 'would not be in line with national policy'. [44105/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy 2022 clearly states that “Islanded” data centre developments, which are not connected to the electricity grid and are powered mainly by on-site fossil fuel generation, would not be in line with government policy”.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), the independent energy regulator which is accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas, published their Large Energy Users Connection Policy Proposed Decision Paper on 18 February, with a subsequent consultation period for feedback on their proposals which ran until 4 April.

Following the consultation period, the Government, as part of its own assessment of the proposed decision, is continuing to liaise with relevant stakeholders. This engagement includes the CRU, energy system operators and other relevant stakeholders on its potential impacts and the implications for Government policy. This review is ongoing, and a final decision is expected in September 2025.

The Private Wires Policy Statement of July 2025 states that the expansion of the right of private developers to build Private Wires is guided by prevailing policy considerations; this would include security of supply and LEU connection policy.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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304. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of islanded data centres contracted to connect to the gas network; the number connected to the gas network of those contracted; the number awaiting connection to the gas network of those contracted; the number of formal enquiries that have been received but which are not contracted; and, for each category, the amount of capacity involved, in tabular form. [44106/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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It is understood that the term ‘islanded’ is intended to refer to a data centre fuelled mainly or wholly by fossil fuel and / or a data centre that does not have an electricity connection sufficient to cover its entire energy requirement.

I am advised that it is important to note that Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) does not assign or classify data centres as between “islanded” and “non-islanded”. The exact status of a data centre is primarily a function of the timelines (if any) pertaining to when that data centre will receive an electricity connection to allow them to move to electricity as their primary source.

The gas connection policy, and so GNI’s application process, does not currently require information as to alternative fuel sources and GNI does not formally collect information as to whether a data centre would be ‘islanded’ or indeed the anticipated duration of same.

GNI has provided the following information relating to the connection agreements entered into by GNI in relation to all data centres, together with information as to additional connection applications. This information relates to all formal applications for connection to GNI’s network, including so called ‘islanded’ data centres.

*Of the 11 that are contracted, 7 are connected, with fewer than 5 of the 7 data centres connected currently consuming gas

**Projected demand from these enquiries’ ranges from 40.5MW up to 1,300MW; the aggregated demand represents the total developer’s strategic long-term ambition which would be dependent on multiple factors including; ability to gain planning permission for multiple phases, availability of electricity grid capacity, permitting, data centre storage demand and route to market to fund these projects.

I am further advised that GNI is aware of the Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy and the Principles for Sustainable Data Centre Development contained therein and is engaging with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in relation to the impact of this policy on gas connection policy. Furthermore, pending the Large Energy User policy decision from the CRU, GNI is not currently contracting more data centres (independent of any perceived classification as islanded or not) pending the conclusion of this process.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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305. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to provide an update on efforts to transpose the provisions of Article 12 of the Energy Efficiency Directive relating to data centres, the deadline for which elapsed in June 2025. [44107/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Article 12 of the Energy Efficiency Directive 2023/1791 (‘EED’) provides an obligation for Member States to require that owners and operators of data centres with an installed information technology power demand of at least 500kW monitor and make publicly available information, subject to Union and national law protecting trade and business secrets and confidentiality, on the energy performance of their data centres. My Department has progressed drafting to advanced stage of the statutory provisions for the transposition of Article 12 and is determining the assignment of an appropriate authority to oversee compliance with the reporting requirements. It is expected to be in place by the end of this year. My Department is keeping stakeholders and the Commission updated.

Also, as the Deputy is aware, Article 12 of the EED is supplemented by the directly effective delegated regulation 2024/1364 that requires the same in-scope data centres as under Article 12 to make public and report annually key performance indicators on their energy and sustainability to a European database on data centres established by the European Commission. This information is to help establish a common Union wide scheme to measure and rate the energy performance and sustainability of data centres, work on which the Commission has advanced. The European database will be made publicly available by the Commission on an aggregated level. My Department is responsible for coordinating this reporting by data centres operating in Ireland which is already well underway.