asked the Minister for Health if he will state whether the Local Appointments Commission recommended a candidate, the most suitable in order of merit, for the post of medical officer for the dispensary district of Knocknalower following interviews for the post held on the 20th July, 1950; and, if so, if he will state why he did not recommend the appointment of that candidate to the Mayo Board of Health.

The Local Appointments Commission did not recommend a candidate for appointment to the post of Medical Officer of Knocknalower Dispensary District. The commissioners did, however, inform me on the 3rd August last that as a result of the competition held for the post, none of the candidates was adjudged to have a competent knowledge of Irish, which qualification was considered essential for the proper discharge of the duties of medical officer in that district, and that they were, therefore, unable to recommend a candidate for appointment. They asked for my views on the matter, and having fully considered the position I informed the commissioners that a further attempt should be made to fill the post on the basis of the qualifications already declared and that it should be re-advertised on the existing conditions.