The 50 metre pool is due to open in March 2010 and be one of the main facilities that Northern Ireland has to offer to overseas teams planning to train in the United Kingdom in the build-up to London 2012.

 

The statement comes after Alliance Councillor Ian Parsley had claimed it was going to be “some challenge” to complete the development by the start of the Games.

 

The Northern Ireland Government had awarded the Council, based in Bangor, £15 million funding in June 2007.

 

However, the Council confirmed it is still waiting for “final confirmation of funding before progressing to the main construction stage”.

 

The project to build the pool — expected to cost around £40 million —has just gone to tender.

 

North Down beat bids from Castlereagh Council while two bids from Belfast City Council were rejected earlier in the process.

 

It is set to be built at Valentine Playing Fields in Bangor and will include spectator seating for up to 1,500 people.

 

However, Parsley, a member of the council’s leisure committee, said that it “looks very unlikely”.

 

He aid: “We’re still in fact on schedule to make it for that time but nevertheless you have to be realistic about these things — given the new financial reality.

 

"It’s an incredibly complex project so to get the whole thing ready by 2012 is certainly some challenge.”

 

However, a spokeswoman for North Down Borough Council said the full business case was submitted for consideration in May 2009.

 

"They said that whilst certain preliminary works have been completed, the council “awaits final confirmation of funding before progressing to the main construction stage.”