Apple’s €850 million Irish data centre has finally been approved
October 2017: Apple has finally been given permission by Ireland’s High Court to build a huge new data centre in Athenry, County Galway.
Justice Paul McDermott ruled that Apple should be granted permission to build the data centre on Ireland’s west coast.
Seán Kyne, Ireland’s minister for community development, natural resources, and digital development, said it was “very positive news for Galway and the West of Ireland.”
“This is a very important step for Athenry and for Apple,” said Paul Keane, who heads up the Athenry for Apple Facebook page, which has over 4,000 members. Keane told Business Insider that Irish laws need to be changed to prevent similar delays in the future.
Apple’s battle in Ireland isn’t over yet. Objectors are likely to appeal the court’s decision, meaning it could end up in the Supreme Court.
Apple wants to use the data centre to store European user data and to help power online services, including the iTunes Store, the App Store, iMessage, Maps, and Siri for customers across Europe.
The data centre is expected to cost €850 million (£762 million) and create over 100 new jobs.
The huge project has been plagued by delays over the last two years after a small number of people objected to its construction, citing environmental issues and other concerns. Source
