The Minister for Tourism and Sport, Dr McDaid, has sharply criticised the Olympic Council of Ireland over its failure to give him a cash flow statement of its accounts, despite repeated requests.

He told the Dail that he was "absolutely shocked" at statements by the president of the Olympic Council threatening job lay-offs because of its cash flow crisis, when the council had failed to give him its accounts so that he could authorise grants. "If the council is not prepared to give me a statement of their current cash flow then I have to wonder why."

The Minister added that he was still awaiting a response to a request for a meeting between his officials and those of the Olympic Council which was provisionally scheduled to take place at the end of August, more than three months ago.

He was responding to Fine Gael's sports spokesman, Mr Bernard Allen, who asked if he had met the council or received a quarterly cash flow statement.

"I have made numerous requests to the OCI to try to obtain information in order to pay the Olympic Council of Ireland's grant for this particular year," Dr McDaid said.

"I have twice requested the Olympic Council of Ireland to give a cash flow statement and to date I have received no reply from the OCI as to their cash flow area," he said.

He said it was "extraordinary" and he was "absolutely shocked" to hear the president of the Olympic Council state recently that he was prepared to lay-off people because of the cash flow crisis.

"I have asked the president of the Olympic Council to show me the cash flow accounts which they have. They have refused to bring that to my attention to date, yet they threatened lay-offs within the Olympic Council and I find that extraordinary."

Mr Allen asked the Minister to conduct an inquiry into a "most unsatisfactory situation" concerning a fund of more than $100,000 set up by supporters of Irish athletes at the Atlanta Olympics.

The Fine Gael spokesman said the supporters had handed over the money to the council either late last year or early this year. To his knowledge, however, "athletes have not yet been paid money from that fund". Yet, the council said they were unable to fund the medical expenses of top athletes because of the cash flow problem.

The Minister said he was unaware of any individuals putting in funding towards the council.

"I can only continue to ask for cash flow statements from the Olympic Council because I am statutorily bound to do that," he said . The Comptroller and Auditor was satisfied with the council's accounts last year.

However, the Comptroller's office also made the point that the Department's grant was formulated on the basis of the cash flow accounts.

Dr McDaid said he has had "numerous requests from the president of the Olympic Council asking me to fund various projects, namely the Winter Olympics and also the World Youth Student Games which are coming up. "I am unable to do so unless I get an account of the cash flow statements of the Olympic Council," he said.