Apple announced the west of Ireland investment in 2015 but the scheme has been plague by planning difficulties ever since to make Apple Data Center.
Now sources have told to reporters that Mr Cook stopped short of reassuring the Taoiseach the project will still go ahead. Plans for a similar plant in Denmark were also announced in 2015 and that centre is almost ready for operation. Apple is now expected to develop a second data centre in Denmark.
Mr. Varadkar raised the company’s plans for Athenry during a meeting with Mr Cook yesterday.
Major doubts now hang over the €850m data centre plane for Athenry in Co Galway.
Apple chief Tim Cook would not commit to the massive project during a private meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Earlier this week the High Court appeare to clear the way for the development to begin.
He impressed upon Mr Cook the value and importance that Irish Government attaches to the Athenry project. He also said that there was very strong support in the local community for the project.
However, Mr Cook only said they would “continue to consider Athenry in the context of their future plans”.
This is a major step back from late September when the Taoiseach said officials at Apple assure him the data centre would go ahead once the planning hurdles were clear.
He outline the changes that the Government is making to fast track these developments in the future, including specifically designating data centres as strategic infrastructure.
Mr Varadkar acknowledge that the planning delays that affect the project to date were beyond Apple’s control.
Taoiseach confirms Apple boss refuse to give ‘a definite commitment’ to build €850m Apple Data Center
Mr Varadkar told Apple executives that local people had protested in favour of the project going ahead despite the planning objections.
And he promise Mr Cook that the Irish Government “will do anything within our power to facilitate” the development.
However, Mr Cook would only commit to considering Athenry as a location for investment in the future.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that Apple boss Tim Cook refused to give “a definite commitment” to build the Athenry data centre during their meeting.
As revealed by Independent.ie, a serious question mark now hangs over the €850m investment planned for the Galway town.
“We didn’t get a start date or a definite commitment or anything like that. But certainly from our point of view we really impressed on them very strongly. How much the Government is behind this project. And we will do anything that is within our power to facilitate it,” Mr Varadkar said.
Apple announced the West of Ireland investment in 2015. But the scheme plagued by planning difficulties ever since.
Earlier this week the High Court appeared to clear the way for the development to begin.
Mr Varadkar understood to acknowledge that the planning delays. That have affected the project to date were beyond Apple’s control.
He outlined the changes that the Government is making to fast track these developments in the future. It including specifically designating data centres as strategic infrastructure.
Plans for a similar plant were also announce in Denmark in 2015. And that centre is almost ready for operation. Facebook is now expecting to develop a second data centre in Denmark.