Electricity Costs: Ireland’s regulator has approved higher network charges, pushing typical household bills up by about €3.44 a month from October, funding grid upgrades for renewables and security of supply. Housing Delivery Watch: New data shows Galway has 1,968 homes under construction (and 30,508 nationally), with the big question now being whether delivery can keep pace. Construction & Infrastructure: Royal BAM Group reports a strong H1 2026, with growth driven by residential, defence and energy work, while BAM’s UK and Ireland arm also lifted earnings. Eurozone Macro: Eurostat says the eurozone grew 0.4% in Q2, with Ireland a standout at 3.9%, as AI investment and spending help offset energy shocks. Agri & Rural Water Safety: EPA reporting highlights E.coli failures in private group water schemes across 10 counties, underlining monitoring gaps in rural supplies. Industry Finance & Markets: PTSB shareholders have voted overwhelmingly to sell the bank to Austria’s BAWAG for €1.6bn, pending regulatory and court approval. AI & Data Centres: OpenAI is set to create 250 jobs in Dublin as it expands its European HQ, adding to the wider debate on Dublin’s data-centre power and network costs. Farming Equipment Push: IAM Agricultural Machinery is running a 2% finance offer on Bomford Turner hedgecutters, aimed at upgrading vegetation management ahead of winter. Culture & Events: Cork Airport expects 72,000 passengers over the August bank holiday weekend, with major festivals across the south boosting travel demand.