Google is building a new data centre in Ireland and investing €150 million in the project.

The centre will be its second owned and operated data facility in Ireland; it leases a third.

There had been speculation last year that Google planned to open a new facility in west Dublin – following a planning application – to give it the room to expand.

Head of operations with Google Ireland Ronan Harris said the investment underlined the company's commitment to Ireland.

“I think the view that we have of Ireland is that it is a wonderful place to base ourselves and do business.

“Every time we’ve wanted to expand and grow, we’ve been able to find the talent and infrastructure that we needed to be able to do that.”

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The data centre will employ 400 people during the construction phase. When the centre is up and running, it will employ 30 people in a variety of roles, similar to its existing facility in west Dublin.

“We’re still very excited about our presence in Ireland and what Ireland has to offer,” said Mr Harris.

“We’ve made a lot of capital investments here since 2010, including a data centre that went online in 2012. This is yet another investment on our part.”

Google has been investing heavily in Ireland. Between 2010 and 2012, it spent €300 million on the initial buildings in the Barrow Street area of Dublin, which has now become known as Silicon Docks.

In 2014, it spent €65 million on Grand Mill Quay.