asked the Minister for Local Government the circumstances under which housing authorities are entitled to disregard the recommendations of the county medical officer and the director of community services when allocating council houses to applicants under the Housing Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Under section 60 of the Housing Act, 1966, houses provided by a housing authority must be let in accordance with the provisions of a scheme of priorities adopted by resolution of the authority. For the purpose of determining the order of priority to be followed in making lettings in accordance with the scheme, that section requires the housing authority to "obtain and have regard to a report from their chief medical officer".

The making of a letting is an executive function of the housing authority, carried out by the manager, who must comply with the terms of the priorities scheme and who must have regard to the report of the chief medical officer but is not obliged to accept that officer's recommendation. No statutory status is given in the matter of lettings to directors of community services.