Minister Higgins visits Backweston Data Centre
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Ó: An Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí, Bonneagair, Athchóiriúcháin Seirbhíse Poiblí agus Digitiúcháin
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On the 13th of August, Minister of State with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment Emer Higgins, visited the new Government Data Centre at Backweston, County Kildare.
The construction project was completed in July 2025, having begun in 2023, and was delivered on time and on budget. Work is progressing on the internal fit-out, which is due to be completed by the end of the year. This state-of-the-art building was developed as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) under the European Union’s recovery plan, NextGenerationEU. It will provide secure operations that will future proof the reliable delivery of essential digital services to the public. Once the fit-out is complete, the migration of services to the new facility is scheduled to begin in early 2026.
Speaking about the new Government Data Centre, Minister Higgins said:
“The Backweston shared Government Data Centre is a fantastic example of how NextGenerationEU funding is delivering real, tangible results. This complex build was completed on time and on budget, which is a testament to the skill and dedication of everyone involved.
“It will harness the latest and most efficient technologies to ensure that vital Government data is stored in a secure and energy-efficient way, meeting the Government’s technology and energy-saving requirements both now and into the future. This state-of-the-art facility will give State bodies the ICT infrastructure they need to work more efficiently, streamline processes, reduce duplication and bring greater consistency to how public services are delivered.
“It will be operational from 2026 onwards, marking a significant step forward in our digital transformation journey, delivering on commitments in the Programme for Government and ultimately helping us to provide better public services to the people of Ireland. I welcome this important progress.”
Notes to editor
The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is the main pillar of the European recovery plan, NextGenerationEU, designed to provide financial aid to Member States to combat the economic and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and make the European economy more resistant to future shocks.
The RRF entered into force on 19 February 2021. It finances reforms and investments in EU Member States made from the start of the pandemic in February 2020 until 31 December 2026. Countries can receive financing up to a previously agreed maximum amount.
To benefit from support under the Facility, EU Governments have submitted national recovery and resilience plans, outlining the reforms and investments they will implement by end-2026, with clear milestones and targets. The plans had to allocate at least 37% of their budget to green measures and 20% to digital measures.
The Recovery and Resilience Facility is performance-based. This means that the Commission only pays out the amounts to each country when they have achieved the agreed milestones and targets towards completing the reforms and investments included in their plan.
Ireland’s RRF Allocation is €1.15 billion, including REPowerEU. The National Recovery and Resilience Plan covers 11 reforms and 19 investments with 118 associated milestones and targets. Payment is contingent on achievement of the milestones and targets in each payment instalment.
RRF projects are pre-funded through the Estimates processes and the National Development Plan, with the RRF allocated funding being recouped from the EU after the milestones and targets have been achieved.
More information can be found on the government and European Commission websites at: