John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

As I have previously indicated to the House, I am at present considering the next steps to be taken in respect of the electronic voting project. In all of this, I am taking into account the work of the commission on electronic voting which has examined the system, relevant experiences and developments internationally and the need to maintain public confidence in the electoral process, as well as the provisions in the programme for Government relating to electoral reform generally.

I am not in a position, therefore, to be definitive regarding the timing of future use of the system. I am conscious of the extensive work inherent in the recommendations of the commission on electronic voting, including the replacement of the election management software, as well as adaptations to the equipment and further end-to-end testing. At the very least, it will be problematic to envisage use of the current e-voting scheme at the local and European elections in 2009.

The total cost incurred to date in the development and roll-out of the electronic voting and counting system is €51.3 million, including some €2.6 million in respect of awareness and education initiatives. In addition, information provided by returning officers to my Department indicates that the total annual storage costs incurred by them in respect of the electronic voting machines and ancillary equipment in 2007 is some €489,000, with figures for 2004, 2005 and 2006 amounting to some €658,000, €696,000, and €706,000, respectively. Costs incurred to date in respect of the movement of the electronic voting equipment to centralised storage arrangements are some €328,000. Further costs will be incurred in respect of the completion of these arrangements, including buy-out costs.

See this speech in context