2. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is concerned that housing delivery is at risk because of an inability of new houses to be connected to the electricity grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24653/25]

Sentiment score: -0.19

Is big tech's insatiable demand for energy to power data centres being put before the need to address the housing crisis? The recent CRU report suggests housing delivery is at risk because of the inability to connect new houses to the electricity grid as a result of the insatiable demand of data centres.

Sentiment score: -0.60

Let me quote from the recent CRU paper on policy on the connection of data centres: ESB Networks has highlighted risks that, in the absence of an adequate policy response, the potential level of data centre demand could significantly impact its ability to accommodate demand connections required to support Government policy targets such as 550,000 new homes by 2040 … It goes on to give the example that, in west Dublin, the new Castlebaggot station was initially designed to support housing growth, relieve pressure and support industrial growth, as well as future demand. It then states: However, due to the first come first served connection approach this new capacity at Castlebaggot was almost entirely used by data centres applications, leaving limited capability to support other demand needs in the area. Therefore, more electricity capacity, or another power station, was added to the grid to assist with housing but it was gobbled up by data centres. What the CRU states is that "it does not have sufficient statutory powers to prioritise certain government policy objectives over others under current legislation". It is asking the Minister to act to state housing should take priority over big tech. Is he going to?

Sentiment score: 0.21

What is the response of the Department and Government? Is it to put a pause, at least, on data centres? Is the Government’s response to state, at least, that housing takes priority? The CRU is saying to the Minister very clearly that we are adding electricity capacity and that, because of the first-come, first-served nature of the system, it is being gobbled up by data centres. Let us get real about where the extra demand for electricity is coming from. It is predominantly from the big tech giants. They are at over 20% of our electricity usage now and by 2030 they will be very close to 30%. This Government signals an even brighter green light to the data centres to keep coming. It says it wants more in terms of AI and so on. However, they are saying to the Government that unless it indicates that housing takes priority, those data centres will gobble up the electricity and will be an obstacle to delivering the housing we need to address the housing crisis. Will the Minister therefore, at the very least, say that housing takes priority over these data centres in terms of electricity?

Sentiment score: -0.00