The Minister for Education, Mr al Martin, denied yesterday his Department was partly to blame for the closure of the health and fitness centres operated by Squash Ireland, which went into receivership just before Christmas.
Staff of the company are to attend a meeting tonight of club members who are anxious to recoup subscriptions or have the centres at Clontarf and Dartry reopened.
Club members were told of the development in a letter from Squash Ireland's managing director, Mr David Balbirnie, dated December 23rd, in which he said lengthy discussions had taken place with the Minister for Education and his Department regarding the ground lease of the company's Clontarf centre, located in the grounds of a school.
He said the company had not been able to resolve the position to its satisfaction and "as a consequence" John Gleeson & Co had been appointed receivers.
However, Mr Martin yesterday rejected "categorically" that the receivership was the result of any failure of negotiations involving his Department.
While there had been an exchange of letters and phone calls, there had been no meetings or lengthy discussions with Squash Ireland, he said.
Mr Balbirnie could not be contacted yesterday for comment. Mr Gleeson, the receiver, also could not be contacted.
