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Google Ireland’s proposed Grange Castle data-centre expansion was refused by South Dublin County Council in August 2024, but An Coimisiún Pleanála overturned that decision and granted permission in September 2026. The approval is conditional, and a judicial review could still affect when construction can proceed.
What Google proposed at Grange Castle
The application was for a 72,400 m² data-storage facility on about 50 acres at Grange Castle Business Park in south Dublin. It would be the third phase of Google’s existing Irish data-centre campus. The Irish Times reported estimates of up to 50 operational jobs and hundreds of construction roles; those figures describe the proposal, not a guarantee of employment. The Irish Times
Why South Dublin County Council rejected the application
On 22 August 2024, the council refused permission over concerns about whether the development’s electricity supply and energy plans met the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022–2028. The official inspector’s report records the refusal and the council’s conclusion that the proposal was contrary to proper planning and sustainable development. Official inspector’s report Council refusal reasons
- Grid capacity: The council considered existing electricity-network capacity insufficient for the proposed facility.
- Connection certainty: It said there was no fixed agreement to connect the development to the grid.
- Renewable supply: It found insufficient significant on-site renewable energy to power the facility.
- Power-purchase agreements: The council considered evidence of engagement with Irish power-purchase agreements (PPAs) inadequate.
- Gas generation: The proposal’s reliance on a gas-powered plant was also a concern.
The refusal applied development-plan requirements, including EDE7 Objective 2 and section 12.9.4. In other words, the issue was not simply whether a data centre could be built; the council assessed whether its power arrangements and environmental approach complied with local planning policy.
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What Google argued on appeal
Google challenged the refusal as an error of fact and law. As reported in September 2026, the company argued that Google Ireland had secured an EirGrid connection in 2021 and that South Dublin County Council was not the appropriate body to decide questions of national network capacity. Appeal reporting
That was Google’s position in the appeal. The permission ultimately granted does not mean the council’s original concerns were never raised; the appeals body reversed the refusal and attached conditions addressing energy and other planning matters.
What the appeals body approved—and what it requires
In September 2026, An Coimisiún Pleanála overturned the council’s refusal and granted permission, subject to conditions. The decision requires:
- Evidence of engagement with power-purchase agreements before development begins.
- Renewable fuel for backup generators.
- Measures and incentives to support staff travel by public transport, bicycle and on foot.
- Ecological enhancement and mitigation of environmental impacts identified in the assessment report. Appeal decision and conditions
These conditions make the approval distinct from an unconditional go-ahead: Google must meet the specified requirements, including providing PPA-engagement evidence before starting development.
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- A new type of connected system that replaces your router for seamless Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home, helping eliminate dead zones and buffering
- Network Assist technology keeps your connection fast by always selecting the clearest channel and fastest band for your devices
- A simple app gets you set up quickly and allows you to see what's connected, prioritize devices, and pause the Wi-Fi on kids' devices
- A single Wi-Fi point covers up to 1,500 sq. ft., a set of three covers homes up to 4,500 sq. ft. Wi-Fi points work together so you can add more if you need additional coverage
Does the approval mean construction will start now?
No. Planning permission is not confirmation that construction has begun or will begin immediately. The decision could still be challenged by judicial review, which may affect timing. Judicial-review qualification
The latest status established here is therefore that the national appeals body approved the project in September 2026, subject to conditions, while judicial review remained possible. The permission resolves the planning appeal; it does not by itself establish a construction start date.
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How the case illustrates Ireland’s data-centre power challenge
The dispute turned on the gap between a claimed grid connection and the council’s concerns about available network capacity, certainty of connection and the facility’s wider power strategy. Renewable supply, PPA engagement and reliance on gas were also part of the planning assessment. The appeal outcome leaves the project approved but makes energy-related steps and environmental measures part of the permission rather than peripheral considerations.
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