This post examines recent developments in Ireland’s economy and public policy, drawn from a joint report by the Central Bank of Ireland and the Climate Change Advisory Council. Updates on sectoral performance, corporate moves, personal finance guidance, and local property and community investment news are also included.
I will unpack the risks posed by underinvestment in climate adaptation and highlight pockets of strength and weakness across services and tourism. Practical implications for investors, households, and policymakers will be flagged.
Why climate adaptation investment must move up the agenda
The joint analysis from the Central Bank of Ireland and the Climate Change Advisory Council is a clear red flag. Inadequate investment in adaptation leaves the State exposed to economic shocks from more frequent and severe weather events.
Failing to fund protective infrastructure and local resilience projects will amplify costs for business, households, and public finances in the years ahead.
What the report recommends and the practical implications
The report stresses the need to boost funding at both national and local levels to address immediate climate impacts. Poorly adapted infrastructure increases insurance losses, disrupts supply chains, and raises the cost of capital.
Three near-term priorities are underlined:
Mixed economic signals: tourism slips while services show pockets of momentum
Recent sectoral data paints an uneven recovery picture. October saw the tourism, transport, and leisure sectors record an eighth consecutive monthly decline, reflecting persistent cost pressures, though these appear to have eased slightly.
Services PMI, corporate deals and market disruption
AIB’s latest services PMI indicates renewed momentum in parts of the services industry. Some firms are expanding activity while others continue to consolidate, a pattern that will influence employment and regional growth dynamics.
In corporate developments, the acquisition of Cork-based Regan Wall by European law firm Fieldfisher will double Fieldfisher’s Irish corporate practice and boost local revenues by over 20%. The collapse of Fastway Couriers — following the loss of major contracts with ASOS and Sports Direct — has rekindled debate over An Post’s competitive practices in the parcel delivery market and raised questions about market concentration and contract dependency.
Personal finance moves and community investment
Individual financial resilience matters amid this backdrop of economic transition. Workers contemplating job changes should approach decisions with a full view of entitlements and cashflow implications before resigning.
Practical advice and social impact projects
Financial commentator Joanne Hunt advises employees to review redundancy rights, pension transfers, and notice-period pay before leaving. Small missteps here can have outsized impacts on personal balance sheets during uncertain economic cycles.
On the social investment front, Mediolanum International Funds is financing a new full-size community playing pitch in Dublin’s southwest inner city. This is an example of how targeted capital can support regeneration in deprived areas and deliver measurable social returns alongside potential property value uplift.
Property watch: Donnybrook and Blackrock present investor opportunities
Commercial and residential property stories point to selective investor appetite. Eirpage House and 55 Main Street in Donnybrook are attracting attention for their rental and redevelopment potential, appealing to buyers focused on income and repositioning plays.
Be ready for selective, location-driven investment
Meanwhile, Beechpark House in Blackrock is on the market for €1.3 million with permission to convert the period property into 10 apartments. This is a classic example of urban densification opportunity in a high-demand suburb.
For investors, the message is clear: focus on locations with resilient rental demand and feasible planning pathways.
Here is the source article for this story: Extreme weather to test the State’s resilience