103. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the action he will take to reduce energy demand and carbon emissions from data centres in view of our legal obligations to reduce both energy usage and carbon emissions; his views on whether the new CRU policy is compatible with those obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73592/25]

Sentiment score: 0.22

It seems we would be losing out on our country becoming a toxic waste ground. The new CRU large user policy enables further exponential expansion of data centres. It allows them to generate their own electricity using fossil fuels. The CRU is also allowing data centres to connect directly to the gas network in South Dublin County Council's area. How can the Government possibly say any of this is in line with our legal obligations to reduce both final energy consumption and carbon emissions?

Sentiment score: -0.06

Will the Minister of State expand on how it is possible to have a policy of exponential growth of data centres that are using fossil fuels? How does that coincide with what he says to the effect that this has to exist within the bounds of our climate targets. We are signed up to the EED, which has a legally binding target to reduce energy consumption by 11.7% by 2030. Ireland's target reduction is 16%. Yet, we have a decision paper from the CRU which states that medium-term electricity demand from data centres could reach 5.8 GW. That is equal to the peak energy demand for the entire country. It is also more than the entire 5 GW target for offshore wind energy by 2030, which the Government is sure to meet. It has been stated that Ireland's total electricity demand has grown by 30% over the past ten years, with the demand from data centres having greatly contributed to this level of growth. This level of growth is projected to continue over the next ten years, with data centres representing a larger share of total energy demand. How does that tally with a commitment and a legal obligation to reduce energy demand when it is being state that this is going to continue to go up fast and that data centres are a driving factor.

Sentiment score: 0.29

That is my question. The Minister of State is in the Department of the environment. He cannot just say something and then move on. It is completely illogical to say, on the one hand, that we are committed to this legally binding target of reducing energy consumption but, on the other, that we agree with a decision paper which states that our level of electricity usage will continue to grow and that this is going to be driven by the data centres. You have to pick one or the other. We will either reduce energy consumption or we are going to allow it to increase. Increasing energy consumption is going to lead to a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions. The latter is because data centres are now directly connected to fossil fuel usage. Originally, it used to be the case that we should not worry and that it would all be renewables. In South Dublin County Council's area, the CRU has made a decision to grant permission for Gas Networks Ireland to connect a gas pipeline to the massive Vantage data centre in Profile Park. That decision states that the emissions will result in 3 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Some 32% of the emissions in that area already come from data centres. Emissions are going to go up even further.

Sentiment score: 0.21

I did not say that.

Sentiment score: 0.00