Former HSE boss Paul Reid has been named as the chairperson of An Coimisiún Pleanála, which will replace An Bord Pleanála.
Mr Reid was a high profile figure during his time at the helm of the HSE from 2019 to 2022, a period dominated by the global pandemic.
Mr Reid will receive an annual salary of €50,000 as chair of An Coimisiún Pleanála, according to the Minister for Housing James Browne.
Mr Browne said there will be six other board members in An Coimisiún Pleanála.
He said the planning commission is commencing tomorrow, with each of the board members due to take up their roles from then.
The new planning body is being established in line with the phased commencement of the 2024 Planning and Development Act.
Mr Browne said the changes to An Bord Pleanála will be substantial.
The new body will be subject to statutory mandatory timelines to give confidence and certainty to applicants.
Minister of State at the Department of Housing, John Cummins, said the announcement of An Coimisiún Pleanála cannot be underestimated.
“What the development sector wants is certainty in relation to decision-making timelines and that is what is contained in the Planning and Development Act.
“If we go back two years ago, the cases on hand were at 3,600. We are down to 1,300 as of last month,” he said.
Minister Cummins cited a “very significant investment in staff” with over 300 staff in the commission.
“We expect those statutory timelines to be implemented in full by An Coimisiún Pleanála but there are very positive indications from this year with regards to how they are dealing with large-scale residential development applications,” he said.
