Google to open a new data centre in Dublin

Details of the new data centre were announced in Dublin on Friday

Internet giant Google is to open a new data centre in Dublin to run its search engine, Gmail and Google Maps services.

The multinational has bought 11 acres of land and an existing building in the Profile Park in the west of the city in a 75m euros investment.

The search giant said Ireland's naturally cool climate contributed to its decision as it will use outside air to cool equipment, instead of costly air-conditioning units.

It should take 12-15 months to build.

Google said construction work will start soon on the specialised, energy-efficient data centre full of computers that will run the three main online services.

Announcing the jobs on Friday, the Irish jobs minister Richard Bruton said the data centre would be "a powerhouse of Google's expansion".

Energy-efficient

"As I have said repeatedly, the global cloud computing industry offers Ireland a massive opportunity for jobs and economic growth," he said.

"The decision by Google, one of the most important multinational companies in Ireland, to locate a state of the art data centre in Dublin, is an endorsement of our policies in this area, and a sign of what is possible if we continue our focus."

The project will create more than 200 jobs during the construction, and up to 30 full-time and contractor jobs once operational.

Positions at the centre will include computer technicians, electrical and mechanical engineers, and catering and security staff.

John Herlihy, head of Google Ireland, said the company was very happy to continue investing in Ireland and to build a further presence.

"The new data centre will be one of the most energy-efficient in Google's global fleet," he said.