Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 49: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the total all-in costs of the Government's e-voting proposals to date; if he intends to take any steps to prevent a reoccurrence of this scale of expenditure and waste; if such proposals in future will undergo a value for money examination before the appointment of consultants or service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22324/05]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 61: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the estimated total cost to the State of scrapping the electronic voting project; if there is resale value for the machines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22286/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 832: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if any contact has been made with other jurisdictions with a view to off-loading or finding alternative use for the now redundant electronic voting equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22778/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 833: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the alternative use to which he proposes to put the expensively stored electronic voting equipment; if it is possible to return the equipment and obtain a refund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22779/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 61, 832 and 833 together.

The Government decision in February 2000 to move to electronic voting and counting aimed to secure a range of identified benefits compared to the current manual arrangements, including: more democratic outcomes through the minimisation of invalid votes and the more accurate counting of votes; provision of a higher level of service to the public; greater flexibility and speed in the voting and counting processes; and greater use of modern information and communication technologies. The decision followed extensive research on electronic voting systems and experiences in other countries and input from a range of sources on legislative, financial and practical considerations.

As part of a programme of further assessment, testing and validation of the electronic voting and counting system, tenders have been sought, and are now being assessed, from suitably qualified consultants to undertake a security and risk assessment of all aspects of the system and to devise a programme of additional testing. This work is intended to address issues raised by the Commission on Electronic Voting and demonstrate that the system operates reliably, securely and accurately.

The total cost to date of the electronic voting and counting project is some €52 million. My Department is not considering, or quantifying the cost of, the approaches to the project set out in the questions, nor have we had contact with other jurisdictions in the matter.