- The Irish Data Centre Supplier Alliance, or IDCSA, will represent Irish companies that operate within the data centre supply chain
- Tom Parlon, the former Director General of CIF, will become the first chair of the IDCSA
Monday, 23rd February 2026
A new trade association has been formed to represent homegrown Irish companies that operate in the data centre supply chain. The Irish Data Centre Supplier Alliance, or IDCSA, will represent companies across planning, design, construction, mechanical & electrical engineering, energy management, automation and technical services that have benefited from data centre investment in Ireland.
The IDCSA has been established to advocate on behalf of its members, demonstrate the data sector’s value to the Irish economy, engage with policymakers to ensure government policy is practical and supportive of new investment, and to communicate how data centre investment supports economic activity and the growth of indigenous Irish firms.
Tom Parlon, the former Director General of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and a former Minister of State in the Department of Finance, will become the first chair of the IDCSA. Parlon brings extensive experience to the position, having led CIF for 16 years providing him with a deep understanding of both the data centre value chain and the Irish policy system.
Speaking at the IDCSA’s official launch at Grange Castle Business Park, Dublin, Tom Parlon said:
“The growth of the data centre industry over the past 15 years has been one of the foundations of Ireland’s economic recovery since the financial crash. The sector has contributed over €20 billion through direct and indirect investment during that time, directly employing 1,800 people whilst supporting thousands more jobs across the Irish supply chain.”
“Data centre investment has also been a vital avenue of growth for Irish business, allowing many companies to evolve into a new generation of multinationals and establishing Ireland as a global leader in the provision of digital infrastructure services. Unfortunately, the debate around data centre investment in Ireland has become deeply polarised over recent years and the benefits to domestic businesses are largely ignored.”
“The IDCSA has been established to represent Irish companies that have benefited from the data centre industry, and to advocate for practical solutions to allow data centre investment flow once more,” added Parlon.
To help mark the launch of IDCSA, representatives from three founding member companies joined Tom Parlon for the event.
“There is a significant amount of negativity surrounding the data centre industry at the moment. While power constraints are a reality we must address, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that Ireland is a global nerve centre for the digital age. We are here to focus on the positives of job creation, technological advancement, and the massive export of Irish expertise,” Colm Phelan, Director of DECI Ltd, said at the launch of IDCSA.
“Dornan is proud to support the establishment of the IDCSA as a dedicated advocate for Ireland’s data centre supply chain. As Irish engineering capability continues to scale globally, the IDCSA will play a critical role in aligning the sector on standards, regulatory engagement and responsible growth,” Joe Conway, Business Development Manager at Dornan Engineering, said.
“Dornan’s work across hyperscale environments has strengthened our technical depth in high availability electrical and mechanical systems, and we are committed to advancing design methodologies that minimise energy demand, optimise cooling efficiency and integrate renewable incentives. Supporting the IDCSA allows us to help drive the engineering innovations and best practice frameworks needed for sustainable, mission critical infrastructure,” Conway added.
“STS Group is delighted to join the newly established IDCSA. We believe this much needed trade association will play key role in reinforcing the positive influence the data centre sector has had for firms such as STS Group. As an international company, we will take the learnings and success stories experienced in other jurisdictions that can form part of the solution in re-positioning Ireland as the location of choice for new data centre investment in the future,” David Quinn, Business Development Manager with STS Group, said.
“Our own growth domestically and internationally is a real-world example of how mission critical investment in Ireland has generated substantial full-time employment, allowed us to grow our geographical reach and expand our service offering whilst keeping abreast of new technologies, improved delivery practices and becoming a more sustainable business,” Quinn added.
