![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/AmazonSign2017_large.jpg\")
An opponent of Apple\u2019s stalled plans for a data center in Co Galway has failed to prevent online giant Amazon securing planning permission for the first phase of its plans for a \u20ac1bn data center in north-west Dublin.\nThis follows An Bord Plean\u00e1la dismissing an appeal lodged by engineer Allan Daly, who is based in Co Galway, giving Amazon\u2019s Irish firm, Amazon Data Services Ireland Limited (Adsil) the green light for the data center.
\nAmazon, which has plans to employ as many as 2,500 in the Republic, already has a number of data centers in Dublin.
\nBut its latest plan for the Dublin district of Mulhuddart, which it has dubbed Project, is its most ambitious to date in Ireland.
\nAdsil, which seeks to build a single data centre of 223,000 sq ft, has told Fingal County Council, however, it might eventually build seven more data centers on the 26-hectare IDA-owned site.
\nRecommending that planning be granted, John Desmond, senior planning inspector at the planning appeals board, said in a 120-page report that the data center was a major piece of digital infrastructure and \u201cmust surely be viewed positively.\u201d
\nIn support of the plan, the IDA told the appeals board it views data centers as crucial in keeping the edge on Ireland\u2019s competitiveness and to allow it to continue to tap investments from overseas.
\nThe planning board had held a two-day oral hearing in September.
\nMr Daly had stated that Adsil had failed to provide information about the power demands the new data center would make on the electricity grid.
\nThe intervention by Mr Daly and a Dublin-based architect David Hughes in lodging the appeals in April last year against Fingal County Council may have delayed the project by nine months.
\nAt the oral hearing, Adsil withdrew plans for a proposed electricity substation and clarified that the grid connection did not form part of the application.
\nThe appeals board has now given the data center the go-ahead after finding it would be consistent with European and Government policy for the development of digital infrastructure.
\nIt also found it would accord with the policies and objectives of similar developments and would not seriously affect the amenities of the nearby area.
\nPlanning consultant for Adsil, John Spain told the board that when fully up and running, the development would require around 35MW of electricity.
\nHe said that based on 2016 demand levels the Amazon data center would account for around 0.5% of the single energy market demand across the island.
\nMr Spain stated that 400 people would be employed in the 12 to 18 months it would take to build the data center.
\nHe said that 32 people would be employed at the center when it became fully operational. Mr Spain said the data center would also \u201csupport and create significantly more direct and indirect roles.\u201d
\nFor its proposed \u20ac850m data center in Athenry in Galway, Apple has faced planning delays.
\nThe iPhone giant was reluctant to give a commitment to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar over the project during his trip to California late last year, and has held back giving a definitive decision since.
\nData centers have their critics, however, because they use a lot of power and employ relatively few people. <\/p>\n