An Coimisiún Pleanála established

An Coimisiún Pleanála, the State’s new national planning body, has been established following the commencement of Part 17 of the Planning and Development Act 2024.

Formerly known as An Bord Pleanála, the national planning body became known as An Coimisiún Pleanála on 18 June 2025.

Insisting that the re-establishment is more than “simply renaming an existing body”, Housing Minister James Browne TD asserts that it was “a comprehensive organisational restructuring that will result in a modernised planning body”.

“In anticipation of this development, my Department worked with An Bord Pleánala to ensure the transformed planning body is properly resourced in preparation for organisational change,” the Minister outlines.

The new structure will comprise three pillars:

1. the governing board to oversee the governance function;
2. the planning commissioners; and
3. the corporate structure.

Governing board

Former HSE CEO Paul Reid was appointed as the Chairperson of the governing board of An Coimisiún Pleanála. In this role, Reid will be tasked with governance and performance of the organisation, including meeting statutory targets for decisions on all planning cases.

The six other board members are:

1. Peter Dennehy, former Chief Officer of the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC);
2. Anne Graham, former CEO of the National Transport Authority (NTA);
3. Mary Keane, former Director General of the Law Society of Ireland and current Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council member with Tailte Éireann;
4. Penelope Kenny, former Chair of An Bord Pleanála’s audit and risk committee;
5. Peter Madden, a senior business executive, previously with Arnotts and Sammon Contracting; and
6. Michael Moriarty, former board member of the Rotunda Hospital.

Planning commissioners

Responsible for all decision-making in relation to appeals, applications, referrals, and requests, the former members of the An Bord Pleanála board are now the planning commissioners of An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Corporate structure

The last chairperson of An Bord Pleanála, Peter Mullan, is now the CEO of An Coimisiún Pleanála, leading “a strengthened management team and a revised organisational structure to undertake all organisational and technical functions to support core decision-making roles”.

In a written response to a question from Sinn Féin housing spokesperson, Eoin Ó Broin TD, in June 2025, Minister Browne revealed that there are now more people working at the Board “than at any time previously”. As of 30 April 2025, a total of 291 people were working at the national planning body, representing an increase of 50 per cent when compared with 2021. Similarly, Exchequer funding received by An Coimisiún Pleanála has increased by 35 per cent from €30.1 million in 2023 to €40.6 million in 2025.

Commenting on the re-establishment, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage John Cummins TD says: “Today marks another milestone in the reform of our planning system… 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.”