The future of a planned €1.5 billion data centre campus in Ennis is being threatened by what its developer describes as “bureaucratic inertia” in securing necessary grid connections, despite having cleared significant planning hurdles.
Art Data Centres Ltd CEO Tom McNamara has expressed “serious frustration” at what he called “continued delays by EirGrid” in issuing a grid connection for the proposed 200MW AI-focused data campus, which received planning permission from An Bord Pleanála in April 2024.
“We have a project of national importance. Almost all legal, technical, and environmental requirements are met. Yet after eight years of effort, the project is being put at risk due to bureaucratic inertia,” McNamara stated.
The massive development, planned for a 145-acre site near Junction 13 on the M18 motorway connecting Galway to Limerick, would comprise six data halls covering approximately 1.3 million square feet. The project has attracted backing from international investors, including ongoing discussions with potential end users in cloud computing and artificial intelligence sectors.
Although the project has faced legal challenges from environmental groups and local residents through a High Court judicial review, a recent court ruling determined that concerns about the Leisler bat habitat were insufficient to halt the plans. However, the case remains before the High Court with an issue concerning a derogation licence still to be decided.
Art Data Centres has been engaging with EirGrid since 2017 and first applied for a grid connection in 2019. Despite this lengthy engagement process, the company claims that EirGrid has not progressed a connection offer, despite what they describe as “confirmed available capacity at Ennis.”
McNamara has now written to Enterprise Minister Peter Burke following this week’s Action Plan on Competitiveness proposal, which aims to provide policy certainty regarding data centres and plans for connecting large energy users.
“Delay is not a neutral act—it actively damages Ireland’s international reputation,” McNamara warned, adding that he’s requesting urgent intervention from Minister Burke and relevant Cabinet colleagues to ensure the project’s grid connection proceeds.
The project previously received public support from Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who stated at an Ennis Chamber of Commerce event: “AI is coming, and the demand for data will grow exponentially. We have to facilitate that. For areas outside of Dublin, which haven’t had this sort of investment, we can’t deny them that opportunity. I understand the grid capacity is there.”
When asked to respond to McNamara’s comments, an EirGrid spokesperson stated that “for reasons of confidentiality, EirGrid does not comment on individual customers, connection agreements or applications.”