Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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126. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will support legislation to enable the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities to give more specific directions in terms of mandatory emissions reduction and offsetting measures to large energy users like data centres, such as a requirement that they generate and are operated using localised, sustainable and renewable energy sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49307/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The CRU published a Large Energy Users Connection Policy Proposed Decision Paper which considered the impact of future LEU connections on both national carbon emissions and the capacity of our energy and grid infrastructure. CRU are in the process of analysing the extensive feedback received as part of the consultation, highlighting the complexity of these and the balance of priorities facing the decision.

Government policy on data centres is articulated in the ‘Government Statement on the Role of Data Centre Policy in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy’ and the Principles for Sustainable Data Centre Development contained therein, which the Commission refer explicitly to as informing their approach.

The Programme for Government recognises the challenges 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. It is also developing a comprehensive plan to accelerate energy generation, connectivity, and planning processes which will guide the development of data centres and other strategically significant very energy intensive industries, in alignment with Ireland’s decarbonisation objectives and growing the knowledge-based economy.