Planned Kildare data centre's estimated cost has risen to €64.6 million

The estimated cost for a proposed data centre planned for North Kildare has risen to €64.6 million.

The projected cost of the new government data centre at Backweston Campus, which is situated between Celbridge and Leixlip, has risen by nearly 15 per cent (14.7 per cent) in the past two years.

A spokesperson for the Office of Public Works (OPW) said that the pre-tender estimate was €56.3 million, excluding VAT.

Providing background on the proposal, the spokesperson said: "The OPW signed a letter of acceptance on December 23, 2022. The successful contractor is Designer Group.

"The contract sum is €64.6m, excluding VAT."

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They continued: (The OPW) would like to provide a bit more context to the project and the ways in which consideration has been given to sustainable solutions in the shared State Data Centre’s design and development: sustainability and climate action are at the core of the OPW's Statement of Strategy, and we are committed to increasing energy efficiency across the State’s portfolio of buildings.

"The government’s digital infrastructure requires significant upgrading and rationalisation.

"A shared State Data Centre will allow the State to secure operations and future-proof the reliable delivery of essential services to the public, from social welfare, and Agfood communications to Revenue and many other schemes and payments.

"By pooling resources in a facility that will operate the latest Free Cooling technology, the new Centre will be at least twice as efficient as existing public service facilities, resulting in reduced power usage and pressure on electricity supply."
 
The spokesperson further said: "The shared State Data Centre will incorporate the soil retention, water attenuation, planting and other biodiversity measures which have successfully formed the basis of the Backweston Campus Masterplan.

"It will also be fitted with connections that will allow it to be powered by renewable energy from a potential future solar farm on site; there will be Photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof of the administration block that will generate electricity on site.
 
"The completion of the State Data Centre is anticipated by 2025, and it will be operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, on behalf of the State, with technical support and backup from the OPW."
 

"The project is on-site and progressing ahead of the construction programme," the spokesperson concluded.