Data Centre Pause in Scotland: Ireland must follow now, say Irish Groups

Friends of the Earth Ireland and communities facing hyperscale data centres call on Minister Darragh O’Brien to follow Scotland’s lead and protect communities by pausing new data centre development [1].

With over 700MW of data centres in the planning pipeline, the equivalent energy demand of Cork, campaigners are calling on the Minister to follow the leadership of the Scottish Government and pause new data centre developments [2]. The vote on Wednesday in Scotland comes at a time when the country has not yet seen the huge buildout witnessed in Ireland. As of 2024 there were 11 data centres in Scotland, while Ireland is host to over 100. 

Commenting on the Scottish vote, Rosi Leonard, Data Centre Campaign Lead at Friends of the Earth Ireland said; “The actions of the Scottish Government yesterday show that not only are pauses on massive data centre development necessary and common sense, but that they are possible. While Scotland has halted development before its grid becomes saturated, the Irish Government is pushing ahead with new hyperscale data centres through its Large Energy Users Action Plan, despite Ireland already being described by the U.N. as ‘a cautionary tale’ on data centre development.”

Leonard continued, “Scotland, like Ireland, is facing a huge wave of hyperscale development. But unlike Ireland, the Scottish Government has acted fast and recognised the risks this buildout will bring. When the Climate Change Advisory Council is warning us that data centres are ‘cannibalising’ renewables, climate targets are being missed, and households are paying hundreds more on their energy bills due to data centre demand, it’s clear the regulations we have in Ireland are not working for us. A moratorium is both legitimate and urgent until these issues have been addressed.”

Niamh Fitzgibbon, local Naas resident and part of Data Centre Awareness Kildare, a local group  campaigning to stop large scale data centre buildout locally commented: “The Scottish people pushed their Parliament to force this pause. They have shown that a government can be forced to say 'not until you prove this is safe.' Our community deserves the same protection. Naas is facing one enormous data centre in the form of Herbata which will triple the electricity demand of the county, and an additional huge chunk of land has been reserved for a separate Microsoft data centre.[3]”

Jane O’Brien, a local Waterford resident involved in Kilmeaden Against Industrialisation, where Echelon is planning a 200MW data centre, commented: “The Scottish move is the right one. In Kilmeadan, residents deserve answers on why a massive privately owned data centre in the middle of our village is needed, and how it will affect air quality, local water supplies and availability of electricity."

The actions of the Scottish Government are the latest in a growing list of local and national Governments who have taken action to limit data centre demand. In Europe, both Spain [4] and Denmark [5] have proposed firmer rules on data centres, including substantial proposals on how data centres source their power, as well as de-prioritising them for energy connections. Multiple states in the US, including the state of New York, have issued temporary moratoriums. States in Asia are also moving as Thailand has paused all new data centre development. [6] 

Friends of the Earth Ireland believes that a moratorium in Ireland is fundamental to delivering on climate action, safeguarding energy and water security, protecting households from rising energy costs and environmental harm, and ensuring clean energy is not being diverted to Big Tech at the expense of other users. 

Notes to Editor: 

1. https://aprs.scot/press-release/parliament-votes-to-pause-data-centre-applications-until-guidance-is-in-place/
2. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/16/datacentres-scotland-environmental-assessments-ai-boom 
3. On September 28th, Naas County Council will hear a motion to remove the zoning in Jigginstown, Naas, which currently stipulates that the land may be used for data centres only. https://www.kildarenow.com/news/naas-residents-come-together-to-block-local-data-centre-projects-9058960
4. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/spain-plans-new-stricter-data-centres-rules-sources-say-2026-08-25/
5. https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/DK-2026-25_4329.html
6. https://www.theregister.com/off-prem/2026/09/07/thailand-pauses-all-datacenter-builds-and-approvals/5294688 
7. Original motion proposed and passed with amendments https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/S7M-01177 
8. The motion passed in Scotland includes calls on the Scottish Government [7]

• “to bring forward a clear definition of what constitutes a hyperscale data centre and to issue national planning guidance, alongside robust environmental standards and assessments, to inform national and local decision-making on current and potential hyperscale data centre planning applications.”
• It notes that “such guidance must provide clarity on spatial, community and social impacts of any such developments and that decisions must be based on community consent.”
• “to report back to Parliament on the development of national planning guidance by the end of the current calendar year and to publish this guidance in full within 12 months, and believes that no decisions on planning or consenting in relation to such applications should be made until this has been completed.”