PBP call for €500 electricity credit and data centre levy
There have been calls in the Dáil for the Government to introduce a €500 electricity credit for every household in Ireland, funded by a new electricity consumption levy on data centres.
Dáil members have urged the Government to introduce a €500 electricity credit for every Irish household, with the funding coming from a new levy on data centres' electricity consumption. People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Richard Boyd Barrett proposed the measure, stating it would aid those struggling during the cost-of-living crisis.
He condemned data centres for paying half the price per unit of electricity compared to ordinary consumers, highlighting Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta's alarming profits. However, Energy Minister Darragh O'Brien shot down the proposal, defending the Government's approach to the energy crisis. He acknowledged the challenges of rising energy prices and emphasized that the country's energy supply remains secure, with a €1.4 billion fuel support measure currently in place.
PBP TD Paul Murphy disputed the minister's claim of 19,000 data centre workers, stating that 3,300 individuals directly work in the sector. The deputy called the industry the "toxic waste of the 21st century" and noted growing opposition to data centres in the US. Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty supported the PBP proposal, arguing that Irish households are locked into the highest energy prices in Europe while a record number fall into arrears.
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