In May, 1993 my Department confirmed to Westmeath County Council that the grant of £1.5 million, which had been originally allocated in 1988 for a multi purpose indoor sports complex, was available for the provision of a new swimming pool in Athlone.
This grant was allocated under my Department's major sports facilities programme and the terms and conditions, which apply to all such Exchequer funded capital projects, were notified to Westmeath County Council. These conditions included requirements in respect of the appointment of consultants, tendering, contract arrangements, management and operation of the completed facility.
Proposals for the appointment of a design team were submitted by Athlone UDC, as client for the swimming pool project, in September 1993. These proposals, taken in conjunction with another design team proposal submitted by Westmeath County Council for the original project, raised a number of complex legal issues, including the question as to whether a contract existed for the design of the project.
