Ireland has created vast quantities of renewable energy in recent years, and yet there is one data centre in Dublin that consumes energy equivalent to 200,000 homes — and Irish energy policy has been revised to attract more such centres. There is a disconnect between the reality of our environmental obligations and our pursuit of investment (and the number of jobs is not insignificant). As it is our energy grid is in dire need of investment, even as our water network hits capacity in many communities which are crying out for new homes. The explosion in AI may well make that estimate as obsolete as our existing energy grid or climate ambitions. For a maturing workforce, especially those realising that flexibility is as important as employment, fractional employment is simply one possibility.

Source: Irish Examiner January 19, 2026 01:15 UTC