Dáil Motion Calls for Immediate Ban on New Data Centres

Opposition TDs have called for an immediate ban on new data centres in Ireland during a Dáil debate on energy policy.

During a Dáil debate on a private members' motion, Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett highlighted the growing pressure that data centre developments place on Ireland's national infrastructure. The motion proposed an immediate halt to new data centre developments, citing figures showing that these facilities consumed 23 per cent of the state's electricity in 2025. This share is projected to rise to 30 per cent by 2030, compared to a European average of just three per cent.

According to the motion, there are currently more than 120 data centres operating in Ireland. This concentration is at least ten times higher than the European per capita average. The motion also highlighted that data centres account for 88 per cent of the growth in Irish electricity demand since 2015.

To back the call for a development ban, the motion cited a United Nations report from June, which described Ireland as a "cautionary example of local grid stress from concentrated digital infrastructure". Concerns were also raised regarding water consumption, noting that data centre usage increased during recent hot weather while households experienced restrictions.

As part of the proposals to address energy costs and grid demands, the motion suggested introducing an electricity consumption levy of €0.20 per kilowatt hour (KWh) on data centres to match unit costs paid by domestic consumers.