Facebook's €200 million data centre planned for Clonee in Co Meath has been granted planning permission by Meath County Council.

The social media giant has been approved to build a data centre campus in two phases over 10 years; the campus will be on a 220 acres site that will be landscaped.

A large number of jobs will be created during the construction phase.

The news was welcomed by the chairman of Meath County Council, Brian Fitzgerald who said: "This is the best news story that I have seen in Co Meath in relation to industrial development in my 30 years on the council."

Mr Fitzgerald said also said he hopes it will also promote the county as an employment base and encourage other foreign direct investment.

The grant of permission is not yet final as objections can still be made to An Bord Pleanála.

Facebook has a separate planning application with An Bord Pleanála for a new 220kV substation to allow it to connect to the national grid at Clonee.