Amazon Web Services faces fresh delay over plans for three data centres in north Dublin
An Bord Pleanála wrote to AWS firm Universal Developers LLC in recent days, seeking to clarify the impact of the three planned data centres, with reference to the Government's recently published Climate Action Plan 2025.
The letter seeking clarification comes more than 18 months after Fingal County Council's decision to grant planning for the three new data-centre buildings was appealed to the board.
The board has now told Amazon Web Services that the information is necessary for the purpose of enabling it to determine the appeal.
AWS has massively ramped up data-centre spending across Europe
In the letter, the appeals board stated that it is seeking the applicant's response, in light of the publication of the Climate Action Plan in April 2025 and of another report, on Ireland's Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2023-2050, released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The reports were published after the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) as part of the planning application.
As a result, the appeals board wants Amazon Web Services to re-affirm, or otherwise, findings in its original environmental assessment.
The data-centre campus – on a 65-acre site at Cruiserath Road, Dublin 15 – would have a combined power load of 73MW.
The appeals board has also told the applicants to provide evidence of capacity in the national grid to serve the development, and is seeking details of the energy provider who will connect the new buildings.
AWS has until May 29 to provide a response.
The letter comes more than 18 months after five third-party appeals lodged in relation to the proposed development with An Bord Pleanála in October 2023 contesting Fingal County Council's decision to grant planning for the three new data-centre buildings.
Universal Developers LLC first lodged plans two-and-a-half years ago, in December 2022.
The five parties who lodged appeals against the permission are Friends of the Earth, the Fingal One Future Group, Dr Colin Doyle, John Conway & Louth Environmental Group, and Mannix Coyne.
AWS has massively ramped up investment in data-centre infrastructure across Europe since last summer, in anticipation of a long-term increase in demand for cloud services as a result of the roll-out of generative AI – the data-hungry processes that are rapidly being adopted by industries of all kinds.
Since May, AWS has announced a combined €35bn of new investment in its European cloud infrastructure, mostly to build new data centres in Britain, Germany, Spain and France.
Ireland has so far missed out on that expansion.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
For markets, end to ECB rate cuts just got closer
Traders are increasingly confident the European Central Bank will pause its run of interest rate cuts now that the central bank sees itself as well-positioned to deal with global economic uncertainty fuelled by US tariff policy. Following Thursday's quarter-point cut in rates to 2%, ECB chief Christine Lagarde said the central bank was in a "good place" and was getting to the end of the monetary policy cycle. That lit a fuse under markets: The euro rose to six-week highs against the dollar and rate-sensitive short-dated euro zone government bond yields jumped as investors trimmed their rate cut bets. Money markets now price in a roughly 20% chance of a July cut compared with almost 30% just before Lagarde started speaking, with market attention initially falling on downward revisions to the ECB's latest inflation forecasts. While traders still anticipate one more cut this year given US tariff uncertainty, the bigger picture is that the ECB's most aggressive easing cycle since the 2008/2009 global financial crisis was nearing an end, analysts said. "The phrase that turned markets was that the ECB is in a good place to navigate the uncertainties," said Aviva Investors senior economist Vasileios Gkionakis. "Absent a major shock on tariffs or an external shock, the most likely outcome is that the ECB is done." The euro rose more than 0.5% to $1.1481, while two-year German government bond yields rose 8 basis points to around 1.88% in their biggest one-day jump in more than three weeks . "The strength of the euro is coming from the ECB's surprisingly hawkish message that they are approaching the end of the cutting cycle with today's rate cut," said Commerzbank currency strategist Michael Pfister. Becky Qin, multi-asset portfolio manager at Fidelity International, said she took a positive view on the euro given expectations for European investors to bring money back home from the United States. The euro's trade-weighted exchange rate is up almost 4% so far this year while oil prices are down 13% , putting downward pressure on inflation. Data on Tuesday showed inflation slowed to 1.9% in May from 2.2% a month earlier. A cut in the ECB's inflation projections initially caught market attention, but that was quickly overshadowed by Lagarde's comments. "The language was tilted to a pause being the base case," said Gareth Hill, portfolio manager at Royal London Asset Management. "The objective for this meeting was to get the market prepared for rates staying near where they are right now in case something left-field comes." Inflation could dip in the short term - possibly even below the ECB's target - but increased government spending, including German fiscal stimulus and higher trade barriers, may add to price pressures later. Lagarde said policymakers were "virtually unanimous" on the rate cut. "Despite the downward revision on growth and inflation since the last forecast, given the uncertainty about trade negotiations for the ECB to be data-dependent is the right assessment," Fidelity's Qin said. "'Wait-and-see or pause' is probably the fair assessment for the next meeting." Europe's broad stock index trimmed its falls following the ECB decision Banking stocks rallied and their outperformance was another sign that investors were sensing an end to further rate reductions. ELEPHANT, ROOM Analysts said that US tariff policy remained the biggest challenge to the ECB outlook. US President Donald Trump last month backed away from his threat to impose 50% tariffs on imports from the European Union, restoring a July 9 deadline to allow for talks between Washington and the 27-nation bloc to produce a deal. "It's 3-4 months since Trump's inauguration and the world has changed and turned upside down, so forecasting with certainty what will happen in the next few months would be challenging," said RLAM's Hill. The ECB expects the economy to grow 0.9% this year and trimmed 2026 forecasts to 1.1%. Aviva's Gkionakis noted the euro zone economy was holding up better than anticipated at the start of the year, with the composite PMI -- a closely watched gauge of business activity -- holding around the 50 mark that divides contraction from expansion. "My view is that the ECB should stay at 2%," he added.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Drogheda United coach claims ‘Drogs should be treated the same as PSG' by Uefa over European participation debacle
DAIRE Doyle insisted Uefa must treat Drogheda United like they would Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain. Drogs Advertisement 2 Drogheda United were crowned FAI Cup champions to earn a place in European Qualifications 2 The 44-year-old is hoping Drogheda United will be allowed compete in Europe Both clubs are owned by the US-based Trivela Group, who also own Walsall, and Uefa has strict rules regarding multi-club ownership models and competing in Europe. And the Drogs' position is in peril as rules dictate that where there is joint ownership, the club that finished lower in their league is the one to miss out. There are precedents from the past. Manchester City put their 47 per cent ownership of Spanish outfit Girona in blind trust so both clubs could compete in the Champions League. And Uefa are in discussions with Trivela — Crystal Palace and Lyon are in a similar situation — with a ruling expected next week. Advertisement Read more on Irish football Assistant boss Doyle said that it is important that Drogheda get the same treatment as any European giant. He said: 'You'd hope the procedures should follow. Drogheda should be treated the same as PSG. I know the club have been in contact with Uefa over the past number of months, they're doing all they can. 'And they've let me know that they're hopeful that we can see a positive outcome to it all. 'There has been work done over a period of time to do what we need to do to find a solution to it. Advertisement Most read in Football 'People will speculate on the bad side rather than the good side. If you take history, there are clubs and ownership models similar to ourselves where both clubs have been in competitions and in some cases the same competition. 'So we can take that precedent that has been set over the last few years and we will be hopeful that will be no different to ourselves. Watch Robbie Brady aim hilarious dig at Ireland teammates after winning Player of the Year award 'Obviously until that does come out, you are going to have the people of Drogheda, supporters, players — everyone is going to talk until a decision is there. That is to be expected.' Doyle acknowledged that it has been something Trivela have been looking into since they first proposed buying 80 per cent of Silkeborg in December. Advertisement That was a month after the Drogs secured European football by DISTANT RELATIVES And Doyle admitted that, while both clubs have the same owners, there have been few dealings between them. He said: 'There wouldn't be too much contact with Silkeborg to be honest. "The Walsall one, there would be more of a link there because obviously we've had players on loan from them, they've come over and played against us last year. Advertisement 'It was a situation that could arise with another top-level country, so it was something I'm sure Trivela were aware could arise and they have been talking over the last couple of months. 'Hopefully we are in a position where ourselves and Silkeborg can both play in Europe.' Meanwhile, Doyle was pleased that the Drogs have got a home draw for when their FAI Cup defence begins next month. They will host Leinster Senior League outfit Crumlin United. Doyle knows the league well as his son Jack plays for Home Farm, and he has regularly seen Crumlin this season. Advertisement The Drogs assistant said: 'I've seen quite a few games this year, they've quite a few good players. James Lee is an excellent manager and former player as well. 'We're really happy we got a home draw, that's the most important thing. 'We'll do our homework on Crumlin now and make sure we find out as much as we can about them before the game.'
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
AIB Group to sell minority shareholding in merchant services business
AIB has announced the sale of its minority stake in its merchant service business to Fiserv. Founded in 2007 as a joint venture between the lender and Fiserv, AIB Merchant Services (AIBMS) is one of Ireland's largest payment solution providers and one of Europe's largest e-commerce acquirers. The service enables businesses to accept card payments from their customers. AIB confirmed that there will be no day-to-day change for AIBMS customers as a result of the announcement, and no customer action is required. AIBMS has had a strong financial performance over the past number of years and is well-positioned for the future, AIB said on Friday. "Considering the evolution of the business and the strategic priorities of both AIB and Fiserv, AIB has reached an agreement to sell its minority shareholding of 49.9% to its JV partner Fiserv," it added. Upon completion, the transaction is expected to result in a circa 35 basis point positive impact on AIB's CET1 capital. In 2024, AIB recognised income of €34m relating to AIBMS in its income from equity accounted investments line. AIB said it will continue to work with AIBMS and Fiserv by referring AIB customers who require these services to the business. AIBMS will continue to operate as AIBMS, under a short-term brand agreement, allowing for an orderly exit of the AIB brand from the business. Colin Hunt, CEO of AIB, said 'Following a successful Joint Venture partnership, we believe Fiserv has the commitment, experience and innovative technical solutions to grow AIBMS and that our customers will continue to be well-served under their sole ownership. Katia Karpova, Head of the EMEA region at Fiserv, said 'We have enjoyed a strong partnership with AIB Group, as together we grew AIBMS into one of the leading acquirers in Europe, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with them to support our mutual clients. "Our focus will remain on delivering market-leading solutions to clients of all sizes across Ireland and the broader European market. We are particularly excited for the opportunity to accelerate the local penetration and growth of Clover, the world's smartest point-of-sale system and business management platform.' The transaction is expected to be completed later this year subject to all relevant regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
