Vol. 524 No. 6
244 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if local authorities are obliged to publish their criteria and guidelines on the way in which they allocate local authority housing; if he has satisfied himself that local authorities are being transparent in their dealings with housing applicants and the public in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23530/00]
Local authorities are required to let houses in accordance with a scheme of letting priorities made by each authority under section 11 of the Housing Act, 1988. My Department issued explanatory notes and guidelines to local authorities in 1989 on the making of such schemes and advising authorities that it should be the aim of their schemes to promote equality of access to local authority housing based on relative housing needs to ensure that a dwelling, if suitable, is let to the person in greatest need and to ensure that no category of needy persons is at a permanent disadvantage vis-à-vis other categories. Subject to compliance with section 11 and regard being had to the guidelines, it is a matter for each local authority to determine the detailed criteria to be included in their scheme of letting priorities. The making or amendment of a scheme is a reserved function of the elected members of the authority. The letting of houses in accordance with the scheme of letting priorities is an executive function performable by the manager. Schemes of letting priorities are generally available in local authorities for examination by members of the public during office hours.
I am satisfied that the local authority schemes of letting priorities generally ensure equal treatment for all categories of applicants for local authority housing based on relative housing need.
