Infrastructure Minister places data centre policy and oversight responsibility on Council

Derry City and Strabane District Council is to discuss data centres following correspondence from the North’s Minister for Infrastructure, Liz Kimmins on the issue.

In June 2025, Council passed a motion calling for the North’s Economy and Infrastructure ministers to develop a “co-ordinated strategic policy” on data centres.

This came in response to a data centre presentation to Council’s Environment and Regeneration Committee by representatives of The Gathering environmental group and the Save the Moat campaign, in February 2025. 

The groups voiced concern regarding Council’s October 2024 planning approval for a data centre  - the first stage of the Atlantic Hub development at Foyle Port - and outline planning permission for three additional data centres.

Minister Kimmins confirmed to Council on July 22, 2025, responsibility for policy and oversight of data centre applications lay with local government.

Data centres contain computers - servers - which support the software, apps and websites used every day. They can range in size from small cabinets to stadium-size hyperscale warehouses and consume enormous amounts of electricity and water. 

In the Republic of Ireland, data centres account for more than 20% of the state’s electricity demand. 

Councillors Gary Donnelly and Raymond Barr (Independent), and Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) have co-tabled a motion on data centres for January’s full Council meeting on Wednesday. 

The full text of the motion reads: “This Council notes the response from the Minister for Infrastructure placing responsibility on local government for policy and oversight of data centre applications across the six counties. 

“Council recognises the impacts these large-scale emitters can have on climate change and energy security, and our obligations to adhere to the Climate Act, climate-related planning policies, and Council’s Climate Adaptation Plan. 

“Based on the ministerial response, members will ask officers to bring forward a paper on the potential to adopt the following corporate position when dealing with future planning applications for data centres in our Council area. 

“This paper will consider the legal, financial and regulatory implications associated with such a position and the steps that council would need to undertake to realise this position. 

“Planning permissions will be granted for data centres when the applicant has demonstrated, to the full satisfaction of the Planning Committee and Council, that:  

“Increased electricity and water demands will not compromise the delivery, operation, or expansion of other essential infrastructure, including the building of social housing, healthcare, education, or water and wastewater services. 

“Any approval or support for such facilities must not result in higher electricity prices or reduced energy availability for residential or small business consumers. 

“Data Centre development must not be allowed to directly or indirectly drive price hikes by destabilising the supply and demand ratio of the electricity market. Developers must therefore show how they will manage their energy use without burdening ordinary consumers.  

“Energy security in the Six Counties will be maintained or improved, and the proposed development will not increase the risk of blackouts or curtailment.  

“Increased electricity demands will not perpetuate or indirectly rely on the burning of fossil fuels, whether through grid dependency, dispatchable fossil backup, or imported high-carbon electricity.  

“The development will not result in a net increase in regional greenhouse gas emissions, including through indirect, upstream, or downstream emissions. Lifecycle emissions accounting must include construction, embodied carbon, operational energy use, water consumption, cooling, backup generation, and all associated infrastructure.  

Climate concerns over approved Foyle Port data centres raised

Presentations were given by Méabh O’Neill from the Environmental Gathering group and John Gormley from the Save the Moat campaign

Councillors support 'co-ordinated strategic approach' on data centres

'The growth of data centres without proper regulation has raised serious and valid concerns' - Cllr Raymond Barr

Council u-turn on data centres welcomed by Save The Moat and The Environmental Gathering

'Multiple councillors acknowledged data centres consume more than 20% of electricity in the Republic, with major grid implications across the island'

“No reliance shall be placed on unverifiable carbon offsetting schemes. 

“Environmental assessments must account for absolute, measurable emissions within the six counties.  

“The Council must be satisfied that data centres in the DCSDC area are not being used to power systems that facilitate war and war crimes. This will ensure that the council is not approving data centres that play a role in facilitating crimes against humanity.  

“The development shall not necessitate or trigger new renewable energy infrastructure that exists only to meet its own energy needs, and that would otherwise be available to support wider decarbonisation efforts or public services. Such infrastructure must not be located within Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), protected landscapes, or sites of environmental or cultural significance. 

“This council has previously given a commitment to champion the Rights of Nature and will proactively oppose any development which puts at risk our natural capital which is already being impacted by Climate change. 

“No application will be considered in isolation from the cumulative environmental, infrastructural, and social consequences of other existing or proposed data centre developments.  

“Council supports ensuring that data centre developments use the national electricity grid rather than private wire connections, maintaining fairness and equal access for all energy users.”