The body, formerly known as An Bord Pleanála, was re-established today following the commencement of Part 17 of the Planning and Development Act 2024.

Housing, local government and heritage minister James Browne said: “Today we are not simply renaming an existing body but introducing a comprehensive organisational restructuring that will result in a modernised planning body, fit for the 21st century and with clearly defined roles and responsibilities.”

New chairperson Mr Reid was previously chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and has held high-profile roles in Fingal County Council and in the civil service.

“Mr Reid has an excellent track record of leading organisations through critical periods of change while ensuring that they deliver on their mandate and provide efficient services to citizens and the State,” Mr Browne said.

“I am confident that Mr Reid will play an integral part in leading the governing board of An Coimisiún Pleanála through this period of transformation and restructuring for the organisation.”

In his role as chairperson of the governing board, Mr Reid will lead on oversight of the governance and performance of the organisation, ensuring that new statutory targets for making decisions are met once they are introduced.

Outgoing chairperson Peter Mullan has been appointed as chief executive officer, leading a strengthened management team overseeing organisational and technical functions supporting core decision-making roles.

Board members are now known as planning commissioners and are responsible for all decision-making regarding appeals, applications, referrals and requests.

Mr Browne said: “There are more people than ever before working in the planning body. Significant additional resources allocated to the body has enabled a 60 per cent reduction in the number of cases awaiting a decision.

“In the case of large scale residential developments — those over 100 houses — all appeals made in 2025 are being dealt with within the statutory objective period of 16 weeks. The average time taken for decisions in the first quarter of this year was less than 10 weeks.

“In the past two years and in the year to date, more cases were discharged by the Board than were received. This was not the case between 2020 and 2022 and has facilitated the considerable reduction in the historic backlog.”

John Cummins, minister of state with responsibility for local government and planning, said: “Today marks another milestone in the reform of our planning system with the establishment of An Coimisiún Pleanála.

“The revised planning authority represents a shift in how we deliver timely decisions for housing and infrastructure across our country.

“At its core, its transformation will streamline processes, deliver faster-decision making and offer a clearer and more consistent framework.

“An Coimisiún Pleanála is now home to almost 300 dedicated staff following significant investment by government and I know they are all very aware of their critical role in ensuring timely decisions.

“I believe it is vital that everyone who interacts with the planning system has confidence that it can respond to existing and emerging challenges.

“New statutory timelines, when introduced, for decision-making and streamlined judicial review processes will help to reduce the delays that may be constraining housing supply and ensure investment decisions can be made knowing when a decision on a planning application may be forthcoming.”

He added: “The new Planning Act is one of the largest pieces of legislation in the history of the State and the commencement of Part 17 of the Act is a very welcome step in the right direction and one of several initiatives underway to create an improved environment for the delivery of housing and much needed infrastructure in the State.

“I very much look forward to seeing the further improvements and initiatives that are to come about this year as the new Act continues to be brought into effect.”

Planning processes, decisions and appeals will continue to operate under the Planning and Development Act 2000 until the remaining parts of the 2024 Act are brought into effect.