5. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the impact of the expansion of data centres on the State’s climate change targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17991/25]
Sentiment score: 0.01
I want the Minister to report on the impact of data centres on us reaching our climate change targets. As he knows, 21% of all metered electricity use is now coming from data centres, whereas all residential dwellings create 28%. It has increased five times in eight years. It is the dominant driver of increased electricity demand in Ireland according to the SEAI. How can we reach our targets with this amount of data centres?
Sentiment score: 0.20
That is all very interesting, but if we have such a love-in with data centres we are not going to reach our emissions targets. We are already set to have a 57% shortfall for emission reduction for transport, buildings, waste and agriculture and a shortfall of 12% for renewable energy production. We face €26 billion in fines. How are we to pay that? How is the State to deal with that because of the policy of attracting data centres? The Taoiseach has been quoted as saying we are "demonising data centres" in Ireland with our commentary, but there is a lot to demonise them for. Just one Meta data centre in Clonee uses 2.5 million gallons of water per day. That is the same as Athlone, which is a town of 21,000 people. How will we make up that shortfall in water and electricity?
Sentiment score: 0.05
The Taoiseach made that comment when speaking at a data centre-linked company called Hanley Energy. There are two issues. Most of AI is utterly useless in terms of the impact for humanity, in comparison with actually dealing with climate change issues. There is no question most AI is not necessary. There is no effort by any of the companies to get people to reduce their online storage, which could be done easily. Most of us could do that. The Taoiseach has said emissions will be offset by renewable energy. It seems the LNG terminal is the Government's solution. That seems to be what is proposed. The Minister of State did not answer how this State will face into paying billions in EU fines when we also face into economic turbulence in the times ahead.
Sentiment score: 0.01
In comparison with reaching climate change targets.
Sentiment score: 0.20