Construction BUSINESS

An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission to US technology giant Apple for a 24,500 square metre data centre which will help run online services including the iTunes store, App store and Siri.

Among the reasons why the project was approved included the “projected demand” for data storage in the future, coupled with the “economic and operational rationale for the clustering of data storage capacity on one site,” the board said.

Ireland beat competition from 18 other countries to secure the €850m project. While just one data centre is currently planned, the company has said that by 2031, eight buildings of almost 25,000 square metres each could be in place to cater for the “rapid expansion” in wireless communications, entertainment and networking.

Data centres are essentially large halls with an uninterrupted electricity supply which store data from smartphones, tablets and computers including images, video and documents.

The data centre will be powered by renewable energy but 18 diesel generators will be provided in the event of a power shortage. Part of the planning application included construction of an electricity sub-station which will connect the plant with the national grid. This was also approved.

Local TD, Ciaran Cannon commented, “This is a huge boost for the west and a great example of what is possible with the right policies when it comes to job creation. We have all the necessary ingredients to develop one of Europe’s largest ICT clusters right here in Galway.”

He added, “We have bright, well educated and ambitious young people. We have excellent schools and third level institutions and we will shortly have a flagship global company basing itself right in the heart of our county. The future looks very bright indeed.”