Mick Clifford: Kenny exit shuts the book on 'annus horribilis' for An Bord Pleanála

The exit of the board’s planning director means that whoever is appointed chairperson of An Bord Pleanála will now have a clean slate with which to work, writes Mick Clifford

An Bord Pleanála has effectively closed the book on a long series of controversies. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The departure of Rachel Kenny as director of planning in An Bord Pleanála in one sense closes the book on the controversies that engulfed the planning body last year. Ms Kenny was one of the high-profile individuals at An Bord Pleanála who was alleged to have had a number of conflicts of interest or engaged in questionable practices, allegations of which she was cleared.

The chair and vice chair of the body left last year. In March, board member Michelle Fagan, who had been involved in a large number of decisions over which the process was called into question, completed her term of office. Now, Ms Kenny, who was considered to be one of the most powerful figures in An Bord Pleanála, is leaving.