In its Action Programme for the Millennium the Government states that it "will invite proposals for a National 50 metre swimming pool project" and as I announced in a press statement on 27 November last I will be advertising in the media shortly for proposals to develop such a facility. I will be inviting applicants to specify, in particular, how they plan to meet the training needs of our high-performance swimmers, as part of the minimum criteria for the project.
In advance of this invitation to submit proposals I have received a number of approaches from bodies expressing interest in developing such a facility. It will be open to all such bodies to respond to the forthcoming advertisement.