Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the expenditure on the acquisition and the storage of electronic voting machines; if he will scrap electronic voting machines in order to save storage costs and to gain any residual value from their scrappage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36584/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The total expenditure on the development and roll-out of the electronic voting system to date is some €51.3 million, the bulk of which has been incurred on the purchase of the voting machines and ancillary equipment. In addition, based on figures received in my Department from returning officers, the total annual costs for storage of the electronic voting equipment, including the cost of insurance, service charges, rates and heating for 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 were €658,000, €696,000, €706,000 and €489,000, respectively. Provisional data from returning officers indicate that a total of some €139,000 was expended on storage in the first six months of 2008.

In 2007, more than 60% of the electronic voting machines or a total of 4,762 were moved to a central storage facility located at Gormanston Army camp. Costs incurred to date in respect of the movement and storage of this equipment are €328,000. These are largely one-off costs related to the preparation of the facility, transportation of the machines and the acquisition of storage containers. The available capacity at this location has been fully utilised. It was reasonable to make adequate and appropriate provision for the storage of the machines. The Government decision to proceed with the movement of the electronic voting equipment to centralised premises was, therefore, the right approach, taking into account a range of factors, including the costs of the previous and the centralised arrangements and the likely benefits to be realised.

As regards the project itself, I am considering the next steps to be taken in regard to the electronic voting and counting system. I am taking into account the detailed work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, which has examined the system, relevant experiences and developments internationally, 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. Given the scale of investment in the system to date, which I have set out, and the importance of the issues involved for our electoral system, it is essential the future of the project be examined objectively and in a thorough and comprehensive manner. The House will appreciate it is not possible to make more specific comment at this point pending completion of the necessary work and a decision by Government in the matter.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Any pensioners listening to this debate must be bewildered. In a week in which the House addressed the issue of medical cards, this might appear to be a small matter, but it is significant. Last week, the Minister cheerlead on the benches and gave the budget a standing ovation.

When I raised this matter in May, the Minister gave an identical response. The commission completed its report more than two years ago and the recommendations are before us. Due to the Minister's inaction at the time and his inability to make a decision, I suggested he consider giving responsibility to someone else, with the matter reverting to the Dáil after six months with an ultimate decision on whether e-voting would be pursued and used at the local and European Parliament elections next year.

The Labour Party's position is clear — the project should be scrapped, but we would have facilitated the Minister bringing alternative opinions to the table. None has been proposed. The Minister stands before the House this afternoon——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Does the Deputy have a question?

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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I will ask it. The Minister does not have a plan. He is prevaricating and sitting on the issue. Public money is being squandered, yet the Minister has not responded to a matter raised with him six months ago. He has done nothing in that period except to give me the same answer that he gave then.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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When will the Minister make a decision, scrap the project and stop wasting taxpayers' money? Is he in a position to inform the House that the project has been scrapped and will not be used in the European or local elections and that he has an exit strategy?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Given the Deputy's response, I am trying to imagine what would have occurred had I made the announcement. I do not doubt that Deputy Ciarán Lynch would have been on the plinth screaming about the waste of money. He is only awaiting the opportunity.

It is a complex issue. I am pleased to report that the amount of money being expended has decreased, including significantly reduced storage costs. I am aware of people's discontent with the project. As the Deputy stated, it is a legacy issue and I am trying to address it as comprehensively as possible. Previously, I indicated to the Deputy——

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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I have the answer here.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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If so, the Deputy should know of my indication that the use of the machines for the forthcoming local and European elections was unlikely, but he is asking me the same question. We must consider all the issues and I have been in discussions on the matter. A report on the Electoral Commission is almost complete, which must also examine this issue. All of these concerns must be considered before a comprehensive decision can be made.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Nearly six months ago, the Minister stated he was examining the issue and that the machines' use in the local elections was unlikely.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I did.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Since his statement this afternoon is the same, he has done nothing in the past five months. Since the matter was last raised during Question Time, what has the Minister done about it?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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At the risk of repeating myself, we have examined storage facilities and reduced costs significantly by placing the machines in centralised storage facilities. I have discussed the issue with the high-powered academics who are preparing a report on the electoral process. That report has not yet been published.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Is the Minister going on record to state he commissioned a report in the past five months?