Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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636. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are cases where land that had been zoned as residential was used to provide land and infrastructure for a data centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61994/25]

John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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The operation of the planning system on a site-by-site basis, is a matter for the planning authorities and under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, the Minister shall not exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Commission is or may be concerned. My Department therefore would not hold this data. Individual Planning Authorities may hold the information requested and it is recommended that they be contacted directly in regard to this matter.

It is noted in general terms that land zoned as residential may in some cases also allow other uses to be permissible or open for consideration. It is also possible that a statutory material contravention of a development plan zoning objective could enable an alternative use to be permitted.