Data centre refusal in Mayo 'is a worrying message'

The decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála to reject a proposal for a data centre in Killala has "delivered a worrying message", according to a local councillor.

Cllr Jarlath Munnelly made his comments at last week's meeting of Mayo County Council following the planning board's announcement that it was refusing permission for the data centre at the former Asahi site in the North Mayo town. The local authority had previously given the project the go-ahead. 

Cllr Munnelly noted that the refusal was attributed to a number of issues, a key one being “a lack of grid connection in Killala", but the developers could not do anything about grid connection until they got planning.

"Mayo County Council had granted permission for this development. I don’t want to open a debate on data centres but can we write to EirGrid to arrange to meet or discuss this matter, as the process around these types of applications seem really unclear and I am concerned with the message we are sending out to enterprises around the county and the world, in terms of how we are set up for connecting to the grid.

“This company spent seven years in Mayo and also spent a lot of money but was told one of the reasons for no planning for the data centre is because they don’t have grid capacity. We need to clarify what is possible on this site in order to see enterprise in our area, and one of the partners we have to work with on this is EirGrid.” 

Chief executive Kevin Kelly said that the data centre refusal in Killala was “a very disappointing outcome".

"I expect it was very frustrating for the proposers of the development, given we were told we needed planning to get connection and then needed connection to get planning.” 

He added: “I’m not sure us talking to EirGrid will do any good, as I think the company already had extensive talks with EirGrid since and they are coming to terms with the decision.” 

He noted that continuous work had been put into the proposed development and said: “We will look at what kind of assistance we can give.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.