Swimmers in the national squads, still deprived of Government funding, have reached a stage where they don't know what they are training for, according to the national coach, Ger Doyle.

A report last week indicating that funding is unlikely to be restored "in the short-to-medium-term" by the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Dr Jim McDaid, has worsened the feeling of despair among coaches and competitors. "I look at the practicalities. If performances don't happen, I don't blame the kids," says Doyle. "The career of the swimmer is so short and what's happened is that there has been a whole year taken out of their careers. Going to Vienna for the Tournament of Nations was fine, but the swimmers didn't know they were going to compete there until a couple of weeks before the event." (The Olympic Council of Ireland stepped in to underwrite that trip).

"The swimmers feel they are getting ready and then not getting ready. They can't really motivate themselves." Doyle also claims that all the top swimmers in the country are becoming "totally demoralised".

A British grand prix event in Wolverhampton later this month presents another opportunity for some of the seven-member Irish team to get in suitable competition before the European short-course championships in Sheffield (December 11th-13th). It is likely, however, that this will have to be passed over. "We will once again be on our knees thanking the OCI should funding not be restored before Sheffield."

The annual King's Hospital international gala, now no more, would have been an ideal warm-up home event for the Sheffield aspirants.