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THE GOVERNMENT, IN partnership with the IDA, are working to identify sites around the country that would be suitable for large data centres.
The proposed plan, which was first mooted before the summer, was brought to Cabinet earlier this week for approval.
The Taoiseach is pushing for Ireland to become the data centre capital of the world, and to continue the trend of large tech companies building data storage facilities here.
A the Fine Gael think-in this year, Leo Varadkar said he intends to make an amendment to the Strategic Infrastructure Act to treat data centres as part of Ireland’s strategic infrastructure so as to “enable the planning process to work more smoothly”.
It’s understood the introduction of fast-track planning permission for data centres will require legislation, which is currently being developed by the Department of Enterprise.
Any new law will prevent a repeat of the €850 million Apple project in Athenry, Galway, which was severely delayed.
Last week, the High Court cleared the way for the data centre after a near three-year wait for the project to get off the ground.
The court today upheld An Bord Pleanála’s earlier decision to approve the centre despite local complaints about potential traffic problems and environmental impact from the 116,000 sq m facility.
Varadkar met with Apple last month and expressed his shared frustration at the legal and planning delays, which he said had delayed investment in the west.
Ireland has become a hub for data centres in recent years, with tech giants like Amazon, Facebook and Apple all setting up major European data storage facilities.
The country is seen as an attractive location for the facilities for a range of reasons, including the cool climate, which reduces running costs for heat-generating computers, its connectivity to the US via transatlantic data cables, and a favourable data-protection regime for tech multinationals.
Amazon alone has several data centres in and around Dublin, including three near Tallaght. It is planning new facilities near Dublin Airport and, most recently, a data centre the size of three football pitches at Mulhuddart, in north-west Dublin.
The Taoiseach said centres, like the one in Athenry, will bring much-needed investment and jobs to the region. However, in reality data centres, once operational, only employ around 30 people. It is the building of the large data centres which bring jobs to an area.
However, another downside of more data centres locating in Ireland has also been highlighted.
An all-island generation capacity statement, which includes forecasts to 2026, shows Ireland’s energy demand will shoot up over the next decade due to the spread of data centres across the country.
EirGrid predicts theses centres will consume 20% of Ireland’s power generation capacity by 2025, according to the country’s main grid operator.
With Ireland’s increasing demand for energy, the government is on a collision course with EU officials over renewable-energy targets.
It’s understood Cabinet members were also briefed about details of the strategic plan, which aim to investigate how these centres could operate through sustainable and renewable energy sources.
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Slightly off point but this behaviour starts with allowing a child to have a mobile phone and full internet access from early age. Ive seen kids as young as 3 years old with this. Are their parents insane???? Why not give them a loaded gun as well while theyre at it! No child needs a mobile phone while in primary school. There is no argument for it. Absolutely none.
@theupsidedown: I could not agree more..
@theupsidedown: 3 years of age ? Would you ever get a grip.
@theupsidedown: well if they don’t have one they will use their friends. It’s much better to educate them about the Internet rather than hoping they are abstaining.
@Deborah Behan: I would strongly disagree with your comment Deborah. We don’t allow 10 year olds to drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco, or drive in vehicles without seat belts, or get tattoos. it is our responsibility to keep our children safe. Giving young children smart phones, with full internet access is the absolute antithesis of good, responsible parenting. I think it should be a crime. I have seen with my own eyes what happens when young kids are left to their own devices on snap chat. Parents who do this are failing their kids and are unfit to raise them.
@Nucky: you get a grip. I know a family with four kids all under 8, all with smart phones with full internet access. The youngest is three. Fact. So pull your head out of your arse.
@Deborah Behan: that’ll sort the problem alright. Let’s give parents less responsibility by letting the internet babysit their kids. After they educate them of course.
@Susannah: well said. Unfortunately too many ostriches have become parents.
@theupsidedown: wow a 3 year old who can surf the net incredible . Probably can’t count or spell but has a smart phone. But if these 4 kids do actually exist how do you know they actually have internet? So stop being a toolbag its called Education why don’t you get one ! Just like alcohol in France etc they are educated and allowed to taste at a young age and how not to abuse it.
@Deborah Behan: exactly Deborah it’s about education which clearly is missing with most of the people who comment here
@Nucky: 1. I never said anything about them surfing the net. Children learn to count/spell from a young age. I’d imagine you’ve struggled with this thus far as you clearly have difficulty with reading. I know they have internet because I’ve witnesssd it. I’d imagine you don’t know these people so you are in no position to say they do not have internet access or that they don’t exist. I never said they abuse the internet. You don’t have to abuse the internet to be abused on the internet. I don’t know you (thankfully) but you should consider anger management & reading classes plus a healthy dose of medication. I actually feel sorry for you. Do a bit of research and educate yourself. This should enable you to reach the bank at the shallow end of the gene pool before you drown, little man.
@Nucky: Just so everyone knows – You’re 3 years on twitter and you only managed to muster one follower in all that time. I’ll bet you’re following yourself. God love you.
Just my opinion but i always feel these articles are directed at girls not to send naked pictures but how about teaching boys to treat girls with more respect and not ask/pressurise girls in to sending them.
In my experience it has been boys / men requesting these type of pictures and instead of having porn as their idea of what sex is like, start teaching both boys and girls what a real sexual relationship is and the respect and responsibility that goes with it.
@Louise Tracey: how about teaching parents to be proper parents ..
@Louise Tracey: I agree. But unfortunately by and large unfettered access to the internet given to them by their parents from a young age as a substitute baby sitter has been destructive. Idiot parents who think their children are cool and tech savvy. Do they really know what goes on when their child is on the internet with no supervision?
@Terry O’Callaghan: well said.
@Terry O’Callaghan: I’m a parent and I hope when the time comes I’ll be able to have a proper conversion with my kids about sex and relationships but if society doesn’t do the same then it’s not going to change.
You can’t blame everything on bad parenting , we have to look at sex culture- celebrities, tv, etc
@Terry O’Callaghan: Perfect example of what I’m talking about – look at the article on the journal sit down Sunday- headline is a sex story. We need stories about healthy sexual relationships not selling your sex life online
@Louise Tracey: you HOPE you’ll be able? That more than likely means you won’t. If you have a daughter bring her up strong independent and unwilling to be pressured. And society starts in the family. Don’t blame society for poor parenting.
@H0tt3rBank3r: yes of course blame women, we need to be strong enough to fight the men off – how about teaching boys be respectful and not be always pushing for what they can get from girls
You seem to have a healthy hatred of men in general there, Louise.
@Cranium: I don’t think that’s a a fair comment. My point is that we need to teach boys to have a different view of women and it isn’t really just to teach girls to not send those pictures
The problem with this is that people have the false notion that just because you are sitting privately in your house/car/the school bus…where ever, posting and texting privately, that anything you post on the Internet is also private, IT ISN’T. It can be viewed, shared and even go viral. Whilst technology may have given us a window to view the world, the world can also now view us, warts and all.
@Brian McDonnell: well said.
What teenagers get up to these days is shocking .what is wrong with them.. have they no cop on at all.. have they no parent that will stand up and say..no you cannot have it ..or no you are not wearing it.. they want everything ..and want to do everything and to hell with the consequences… I see how some are dressed and it’s nothing short of vulgar..some will say that’s fashion..i say it’s very bad parenting..putting images on line.. to show your boyfriend/ girlfriend. And the world. Consequences will be paid for such a stupid pointless act..
@Terry O’Callaghan: I agree with you 100% Terry. But I don’t blame the children. They are simply an unfortunate byproduct of their home environment. The parents should be the ones on trial here, literally. For failing their children so miserably.
Recently I was asked to send an undraped picture of myself to someone I had met online. Out of (basic) decency I covered my (although I say it myself, generous,) manhood with a (biggish) fig-leaf. Somehow it went viral and I find myself being summonsed for creating a disturbance of the “piece.” Be careful of what you put out there.
P.s. I am 87 in September.
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