Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made towards implementing the announcement of 23 April 2009 not to proceed with the implementation of electronic voting here; if all voting machines have been removed from their long-term storage locations; if all long-term storage contracts have been terminated; if so, the cost to the State; if new short-term storage arrangements have been entered into; the cost to the State; the way it is intended to physically dispose of all of the electronic voting equipment, including that stored at Gormanston, County Meath; the cost of same; and if costs are being incurred for the storage of manual electronic voting related equipment. [36055/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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On 23 April 2009 I announced that the Government had decided not to proceed with implementation of electronic voting in Ireland. Since then, a process has been put in place to address the issues that arise from that decision. An interdepartmental task force, chaired by my Department, has been established to bring the project to an orderly conclusion and to oversee disposal of the equipment and termination of storage arrangements. The first meeting of the task force took place in July 2009.

In considering options for disposal of the equipment, the priority is to pursue the most economically advantageous approach with a view to achieving the maximum recovery of costs possible in the circumstances, consistent with environmental and other obligations. Detailed consideration of all relevant factors is under way to inform the manner in which disposal of the machines will be effected. This process includes contact with the original suppliers of the machines.

In 2007 more than 60% of the machines, some 4,762 in total, were moved from 12 local storage locations to a central facility at Gormanston Army Camp. The remaining machines are stored at 13 local premises that were originally identified by returning officers for this purpose. It is intended that all machines will be removed from their current locations when arrangements for their disposal are implemented. Work on termination of local lease arrangements is proceeding in this context.

In May 2007 my Department, following a competitive tendering process, engaged consultants with valuation expertise to examine individual leases and to make recommendations on termination of leases, where appropriate. In May 2008 I accepted the consultants' recommendations and these are currently being implemented. The consultants recommended termination of leases in seven cases and this has since occurred at three locations. No additional payments were made in respect of these terminations. Work is ongoing on concluding the other four leases. It is expected that, in certain instances, termination of lease arrangements will give rise to buy-out costs and these will be dependent on the outcome of negotiations.

Returning officers continue to have requirements for the storage of manual voting equipment. My Department has informed them that these arrangements should be made on the basis of achieving the best value for money, with a preference that such items be stored in an appropriate public building where payment of rent is not required.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. I welcomed the announcement he made on 23 April. The purpose of the question is to obtain a progress report in respect of this matter. On foot of the Minister's reply, I am not sure as to what progress has been made. By all accounts, the Exchequer is still paying for the storage of these machines. Is it correct that a deadline has not been set in respect of completing the process of disposing of these machines?

A letter was sent out to local authorities in September but the Minister did not refer to this. That letter is critical in the context of the audit regarding the number of these machines that are in place and in respect of the escape costs relating to the storage leases, the duration of which is 20 years or more.

Is the Minister in a position to indicate the date by which this project will be scrapped entirely and on which the Exchequer will cease funding it? Has he identified the cost of escaping leases with durations of two, three, four, five, ten and 20 years? What costs have accrued to his Department or to the Exchequer since the announcement was made on 23 April last? How much more will the Exchequer be obliged to pay before the project is completed and the machines disposed of?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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As the Deputy will be aware, to date some €51.33 million has been spent on the development and roll-out of the system. In addition, there have been associated storage costs. For 2008 these amounted to €204,000 - lower than those for the previous years. Storage costs for the years 2004 to 2007, inclusive, were €658,000, €696,000, €706,000 and €489,000, respectively. Pending the removal of the machines there will continue to be ongoing storage costs. This was factored into the analysis and informed the decision to end the electronic voting project.

This matter was dealt with in chapter 9 of the annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, which was published on 11 September and which states:

It is in the nature of large ICT projects that they can be overtaken by technical developments or that the solutions developed may not achieve user acceptance. In such instances, the challenge for management of projects is to recognise when they are not working as intended and to act appropriately. The decision to abandon a project that is not working is the correct course because it avoids spending further public moneys – both capital and current – in a non-effective way.

It concludes by stating that reasonable steps are being taken to wind down the project and to reuse or dispose of the assets that can no longer be utilised. The Deputy has asked further questions that I intend to answer. I spoke to representatives from Nedap-Powervote, who have indicated the approximate costs. I do not believe they are exorbitant and I will keep the Deputy informed at all times as to the progress being made.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Has a deadline been set by which this process of disbanding the electronic voting project will be completed? On foot of the Minister's announcement on 23 April, what will be the estimated total cost to achieve this deadline? Within the costs associated with the overall process of dismantling this project, has the Minister identified what will be the cost to escape those leases that were set for 20 years? In the context of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, everyone knew these machines were the equivalent of PlayStation Ones that would expire within a certain timeframe. The idea that leases were taken out for 20 or 25 years on a product that had a limited shelf life was madness in the first instance.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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As for the storage arrangements and the costs involved, the original electronic voting machines were stored at 25 local premises. In 2007-----

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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I know that.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I already have given this information to the Deputy.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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I know that.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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In most cases, these leases are of relatively short duration and will not involve negotiation of termination arrangements or the payment of a penalty to end the lease. The most widely publicised lease concerns the storage facility in Cavan-Monaghan, which was arranged by the former Monaghan county registrar. While the length of that lease - which has been publicised as being for 25 years - has been the subject of much public comment, this arrangement was somewhat exceptional in comparison with the other leases.

On the question regarding a deadline, I cannot give the Deputy a definitive date as to when all these arrangements will be completed. However, I am hopeful that progress can be made. The Department has made contact with and is in negotiations with the Nedap-Powervote company.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Will it be within six or 12 months?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I told the Deputy previously that I would deal with this issue.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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He said that two years ago.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I have done so and I repeat that it will be dealt with.