Squash Ireland's facility at Clontarf in Dublin could be reopened within days if a rescue proposal by another health and fitness company is accepted, a meeting in Dublin was told last night.
The Minister for Education, Mr Martin, will be asked today to back the proposal by Westwood Club Ltd to take over the running of the centre which closed just before Christmas when Squash Ireland went into receivership.
About 150 Squash Ireland members and staff, who attended the meeting in the Hollybrook Hotel in Clontarf, voted overwhelmingly to accept the plan put forward by Westwood director Mr Kieran Condell.
Local TDs, Mr Derek McDowell of Labour and Fianna Fail's Mr Sean Haughey, are to ask the Minister today to instruct officials to begin negotiations with Westwood.
The Department owns the Clontarf site which had been leased to Squash Ireland. The 21-year lease expired in December 1994, but the company continued to use the facility until the receiver, John Gleeson & Co, was appointed on December 23rd.
Squash Ireland's other centre, in Dartry, also closed.
The company's managing director, Mr David Balbirnie, is understood to be in the United States and could not be contacted for comment.
