There has been a mixed reaction from Galway politicians to the decision to extend Apple’s planning permission for its proposed data centre in Athenry to 2026.
On Monday, Apple was granted an extension of planning permission for its proposed data centre in Athenry. The extension, which was granted by the Galway County Council, now expires in 2026.
The decision has met with a mixed reaction from Galway politicians. Fine Gael Galway East TD, Ciaran Cannon, said it was “a very positive development” for the region, and many will welcome the potential boost in employment which such a centre could provide.
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However, People Before Profit Galway representative, Adrian Curran, said the extension of planning permission was “environmentally disastrous” for Athenry. He also questioned how much employment the centre would bring to east Galway.
The application, for a single storey data centre at Palmerstown, Toberroe, and Derrydonnell, was made to the council in June. This was despite the tech giant having cancelled plans to build an €850 million data centre in the east Galway town, following planning delays and objections. In 2019, The Times reported that Apple was looking to sell the Athenry site, advertising it as a “ready-to-go data centre development site”.
In the extension application, Apple said it intends to “support the provision of the consented works by identifying interested parties to develop the project”. Apple also said in the application, that once it finds a party to develop the site, the buyer would “proceed with the consented works within the relevant timeframes”.
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Mr Curran [pictured below], though, is doubtful about any real economic impact, regardless of whoever eventually runs the site.
“Many people have been misled into thinking Apple’s Athenry project would bring vital jobs to the area,” he said. “In reality its benefits for Athenry are doubtful. These vast warehouses do not provide plentiful or sustainable employment as they need limited maintenance, and they also create few secondary jobs.”
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He also said that expanding the number of data centres in Ireland shows the Government is “not serious” about tackling climate change.
“With more than 70 data centres currently operating and a 25 per cent increase in their expansion in Ireland in the last year alone,” he said, “by 2030 these centres will consume 30 per cent of the State’s total electricity demand, swallowing over half of any increase in renewable energy in the next decade.”
