COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, February 13, 2012
MOTION NO.7
MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle
That this council noting the Government’s commitment to supporting Ireland’s cloud computing sector and further noting the recent and planned investment in South Dublin County for the provision of data centres which are a key element in facilitating cloud computing; requests the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation and IDA Ireland to prioritise South Dublin County; and in particular Grange Castle International Business Park, for further targeted investment in developing a cloud computing industry and research cluster and centre of excellence.
REPORT:
Council and the IDA have been marketing Grange Castle Business Park to attract major foreign direct investment and have concentrated mainly on IT and Biotechnology sectors. All necessary infrastructures have been put in place to meet their requirements particularly in the areas of power and broadband which is critical for developments in these sectors. It is fair to say that Grange Castle Business Park is best placed nationwide to attract these types of investments.
South Dublin County Council in partnership with IDA were successful in persuading Wyeths ( Pfizer),Takeda Ireland, Cuisine de France and set up their facilities in Grange Castle Business Park. The decision by Microsoft to establish its first ever data centre outside the USA in Grange Castle Business Park was a significant boost not only to South Dublin but to Ireland as well. The facility in Grange Castle has been so successful that they have commenced construction of phase 2 (11,090 sq. m) of the development much earlier than anticipated.
Both the Council And IDA more recently have played an active role in facilitating the establishment of two other data centres , Digital Realty Trust and Google,in Profile Park which is adjacent to Grange Castle. Works are ongoing in respect of a further major data centre in the Tallaght area of South Dublin.
Cloud Computing is a major new industry that is revolutionising the way that information technology is developed and used. The Cloud will deliver enormous benefits for to business, state and private users and create exciting opportunities for new and existing companies to provide new services and new markets. It can also substantially reduce the costs of businesses.
Grange Castle Business Park and the surrounding area was identified as an ideal location for the development of a “free trading zone” to cluster mega data centres whish would support international innovation and R&D centres. These were a core component of the successful submission to Your Country Your Call as part of The Data Island Strategy.
It is the Councils intentions to be at the forefront of seeking to have Grange Castle Business Park become a world centre of this important new industry.
To this end the Council in partnership with ESB and others recently completed a major project to provide an additional 110KV circuits from Inchicore to Grange Castle. Looking to the future and to ensure the availability and security of power supply the Council have been in discussions with Eirgrid and ESB to promote and ensure the construction of a new 220KV station in the Adamstown area at an early date. The IDA has been aware of the Councils aspirations and our capacity to meet the requirements of those involved in Cloud Computing services.
If the motion is passed the Minister for Jobs , Enterprise and Innovation will be notified of the contents of the Motion.