Paschal Donohoe says data centres could not be excluded from energy scheme

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe during a media briefing at the Department of Finance, Dublin, following the publication of the Finance Bill 2022. Picture: PA

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has defended the eligibility of data centres to avail of the Government’s energy subsidy scheme, but said he did not expect them to apply.

The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme, announced in Budget 2023, gives grants worth 40% of the increase of the bill to businesses that can show the unit cost of their energy bills has spiked by at least 50% compared to last year.