Paul Reid, the former CEO of the HSE, is poised to take on the role of chairman for the upcoming planning authority that will succeed An Bord Pleanála. It is reported that Mr. Reid will head the board of An Coimisiún Pleanála once it is officially established by Minister for Housing James Browne.

A seasoned civil servant and former head of Fingal County Council, Mr. Reid assumed leadership of the HSE in 2019, just before the initial wave of the coronavirus pandemic hit. He gained widespread recognition during the lockdowns and the Covid-19 vaccination rollout. Mr. Reid stepped down towards the end of 2022, noting that the HSE was transitioning into a new phase with the diminishing threat of the pandemic.

Minister Browne is anticipated to announce Mr. Reid's appointment in an information memorandum to the Cabinet.

Legislation was passed last year to revamp the planning system and replace An Bord Pleanála with An Coimisiún Pleanála. The objective is to streamline the planning procedures, with the new entity being bound by specific statutory timelines for making planning decisions.