Career civil servant Paul Reid will receive a base salary of €50,000 in his new role as Chairperson of Ireland’s national Planning Commission, it has been confirmed.
Speaking at a media briefing today, Housing Minister James Browne said Reid had been chosen for the position due to his extensive governance and management experience, adding that the role would require daily, hands-on involvement with the commission’s CEO.
“It’s €50,000 in base salary,” Browne said.
“There are no per diems…I’ll have to double check on allowances, but I’m not aware that there is any.”
The Fianna Fáil Minister said Reid had been selected from among board members of state agencies under his Department’s remit, and described the Planning Commission as “probably the single most important agency we have in this state.”
“It decides not only housing and how quickly that can be delivered, but also our transport, our education and our hospitals,” he said.
“This will be a real hands-on role,” Browne added.
The Planning Commission is being established as part of the government’s implementation of the Planning and Development Act, with statutory timelines and new administrative procedures set to apply.
Reid, who grew up in Finglas, Dublin, has a long history in both the public and NGO sectors. He began his career with the Department of Posts and Telegraphs at age 16, and later worked his way up through Eircom to become executive director of networks and operations.
He also held senior roles in Trócaire, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and Fingal County Council, before becoming Director-General of the HSE in 2019.
He stepped down from that role in October 2022, and was later appointed Chairperson of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use in February 2023.
A salary of €50,000 is a significant departure from Reid’s salary received when he was at the HSE, wherein he was earning around €400,000 per year.
An Coimisiún Pleanála, previously known as An Bord Pleanála, will be Ireland’s national independent planning authority, restructured under the Planning and Development Act 2024. It will oversee planning appeals, direct applications for strategic infrastructure, and other significant developments, ensuring decisions align with national and regional policies.
The Commission will consist of a Chief Planning Commissioner, a Deputy Chief Commissioner, and up to 13 other Planning Commissioners who will focus solely on decision-making. A separate Governing Board, appointed by the Minister for Housing, will handle governance and strategy, while a Chief Executive will manage operations. It will introduce mandatory timelines for decisions (e.g., 18-48 weeks depending on the application type) with penalties for non-compliance, with a goal of enhancing efficiency within the planning system.