Dublin building costs soar amid data centre boom

Dublin is now Europe’s fourth most expensive city for construction, with costs averaging €3,692 per square metre, driven by relentless data centre and commercial property development. Data centres alone now consume 22 per cent of Ireland’s electricity – more than all urban homes – as AI demand fuels growth despite grid pressures. But rising costs, skills shortages, slow digital adoption, and planning delays risk bottlenecking the sector just when delivery needs to accelerate. Industry leaders warn that without smarter building, streamlined approvals, and rapid digital upskilling, Ireland’s ambitions for housing and high-tech growth could stall.

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