Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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180. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a data centre is considered an "islanded" data centre, if it is powered by gas powered generators off-site connected via a private wire, as was suggested in recent media reports (details supplied). [46729/25]

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.

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.