South Dublin Council receives almost €35.1m in commercial rates from data centres as 42 ‘data halls’ approved
South Dublin County Council has received more than €35m in commercial rates from data centres in 2026, accounting for 22.3pc of its total rates income.
Figures provided in response to a question by Fine Gael councillor David McManus at the September full council meeting show that data centres generated almost €35.1m in commercial rates income this year, up from €28.7m in 2024.
The income rose to €31.3m in 2025, before increasing by almost €3.8m this year.
Data centres accounted for 19.8pc of the council’s total commercial rates income in 2024, increasing to 22.3pc in 2026.
The council’s overall annual rates income is projected at €157.6m this year, compared with an overall annual budget of €422.6m.
“Data centres provide a significant source of income and have become an increasingly important source of funding through commercial rates, especially for Local Authorities in the Dublin region,” SDCC said in its response.
“South Dublin County Council is heavily reliant on the commercial rates income generated by the data centres within its administrative area.”
In a separate response to Sinn Féin councillor Daniel Loftus, the council said planning permissions granted to date provide for 42 individual “data halls” across a number of approved data centre developments.
Of these, 32 have been completed, eight are currently under construction and two have planning permission but have not yet commenced development.
The council added it does not currently maintain records of operational data halls, although it maintains records of planning and development status which are updated “when resources allow”.
Since June 2022, 10 planning applications relating to data centre developments have been appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála, with two currently awaiting determination.
Data centres accounted for 23pc of Ireland’s metered electricity consumption in 2025, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.
Cllr Loftus has called for a halt to the expansion of data centres across South Dublin, citing concerns about their electricity consumption, environmental impact and effect on household energy bills.
“Data centres currently consume more than 20pc of Ireland’s electricity and we do not need more in South Dublin County Council,” he said.
“In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis people are paying more for their electricity than data centres.
“Not only are data centres putting Irish energy security at risk, ordinary people are getting ripped off in the process,” the Palmerstown Fonthill councillor added.