Facebook’s data centre currently under construction in Co Meath will be “online late 2017/early 2018” and will employ in the region of 115 people when fully operational.

It has also emerged that Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners, the Canadian fund that bought the windfarms division of Bord Gáis, will power the site with wind energy produced in Ireland.

Brookfield has signed a 10-year supply contract with Facebook, which will power the data centre solely on renewable power. Brookfield will also supply wind power to Facebook's European headquarters in Dublin.

The Irish Wind Energy Association highlighted a similar decision by Apple to power its new data centre in Galway with wind power, and said such deals are a "practical road map" for other big corporations to follow.

Tom Furlong, the vice-president of Infrastructure at Facebook, yesterday confirmed the company's growth means it is also proceeding with plans to build the second of three buildings on the site earlier than anticipated.