15/06/2015

Facebook Submit Planning Application For Co Meath Base

Facebook is to establish a new data centre in Co Meath as part of a new €200m investment.

It is understood that the technology leader has submitted a planning application which, if approved, could create hundreds of temporary construction jobs and an unspecified number of permanent jobs.

Welcoming the news, Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin TD and Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, said: "I welcome the announcement by Facebook that they are seeking to build a new data centre in Meath.

"It is an important development for the growth of the IT and social media industry in Ireland. It is also important for the development of industry in rural Ireland.

"Companies such as Facebook can only set up in sites where they have access to essential infrastructure such as high speed fibre broadband. This puts into context the importance of fibre broadband rollout across the state.

"We will only be able to see companies such as Facebook operate in rural areas, especially west of the Shannon, if government intervene in the rolling out of broadband to areas not covered by private industry.

"It is also essential that the state operate and maintain these fibre networks into the future to ensure they are capable of technological advancement.

"Facebook are also looking for local renewable energy sources for their new data site. The upcoming White Paper on Energy must look at developing local, community-led renewable energy projects, along with facilitating and expanding on-site microgeneration units.

"IT, social media and web based companies are integral to the Irish economy, but they cannot develop and grow unless they are necessary infrastructures are put in place."

(MH/JP)

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