The undeniable growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) over the last few years has led to a massive increase in AI data centres all over the world, including Ireland. These are buildings that host a large number of infrastructures in order to keep internet servers running smoothly.  

As of October 2025, there are approximately 82 data centres in Ireland, with an additional 40 having already been granted planning permission. It is a market that is constantly growing due to the increased demand of AI tools, with 1,200 data centres in Europe. This number is expected to see a huge increase in the next few years. 

These data centres have come about from the European Union’s AI Act, which will be governed by the National AI Office in April 2026. The goal of the act will be to implement more AI data centres but ensure the AI systems are regulated and safe for all involved. 

In a press release from gov.ie, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism, and Employment, Peter Burke, said “Ireland is building a future where AI is transformative, trusted, and transparent. We’re balancing innovation with safeguards, ensuring AI works for people, not against them.” 

As well as these comments from Burke, the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth, spoke about the hopes she has for the act: 

“This is about leadership with purpose. We’re creating a system that protects the vulnerable, empowers innovators, and positions Ireland as a global hub for ethical AI. The successful implementation of the AI act requires collaboration, co-operation and collective responsibility amongst all stakeholders,” she said. 

However, one prominent issue that has become cause for concern as a result of these new data centres is the effect on Ireland’s climate goals. The current goal set out in the Climate Action Plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) projects a reduction of only about 22-29% by 2030.  

AI data centres have led to a major increase in environmental issues. Some of these include a high water and energy consumption and a massive amount of greenhouse gas emissions. With all these new AI data centres being constructed in Ireland, it is likely that these projections will further hinder Ireland’s attempt to hit their climate goals.  

In order to get some insight into how damaging the climate effects could potentially be, I spoke to a climate activist, Olivia Byrne: 

“Our greenhouse gas emissions are already really bad, especially in comparison with other European countries, considering our population and size. It’s scary to think what they’ll be in the next few years. The data centres are only something I’ve recently been looking into and while I get the argument that they have a place in the modern world, they have to be regulated. They use an extraordinary amount of water to cool the systems and huge CO2 emissions. It’s only going to get worse in the next few years. I’d be shocked if we hit those climate goals, I think they have to be revised eventually.” 

It is clear that while these centres are necessary in this ever-changing world, the proposed National AI Office as well as the government’s climate department have to ensure that everything is regulated in order to keep climate goals to an acceptable level.