John Downing: After one intractable crisis, Paul Reid tackles housing, showing hope can spring eternal

The former HSE chief executive will chair An Coimisiún Pleanála after the Government approved the move this week

Paul Reid led the HSE during Covid. Photo: Niall Carson

John Downing

Paul Reid’s move from the frying pan of health to the fire of housing epitomises the nation’s twin crises. It is very hard to show wins in either sector, but he still appears game to try.

The former HSE chief executive is to be paid €50,000 a year to chair the State’s revamped planning authority in place of the discredited An Bord Pleanála, which had been muddling along since 1977 but got additional souped-up powers in 2007 to green-light big infrastructure projects.