Each housing authority is responsible for making a scheme of letting priorities to govern the letting of tenancies in its houses. The making or amendment of a scheme is a reserved function of the elected members of the authority under section 11 of the Housing Act, 1988, and is subject to my approval to ensure the scheme is in accordance with statutory requirements and that all categories of need are covered by the scheme.
My Department issued explanatory notes and guidelines to housing authorities in 1989 on the making of such schemes. These advised housing authorities that it should be the aim of a scheme to promote equality of opportunity in getting access to local authority housing based on relative housing needs. Subject to compliance with section 11 and regard being had to the guidelines, it is a matter for each housing authority to determine the detailed criteria to be included in its scheme.
The determination of priority in the allocation of a local authority house is a matter for the local authority in accordance with its scheme of letting priorities and I am precluded by statute from intervening in a way that might be construed as directing the letting of a house to a particular individual.