Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost to date of the electronic voting project, including storage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9487/06]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost to date with respect to the electronic voting system including capital expenditure, testing of the electronic voting machines, storage of the electronic voting machines, training of staff, reviews and reports on the system and all other associated costs; the specific costs to date for capital expenditure, testing of the electronic voting machines, storage of the electronic voting machines and training of staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9601/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to liquidate the e-voting system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9515/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of centres here at which electronic voting equipment is stored; the cost per annum in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9735/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 221: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he can quantify the saving to the Exchequer in terms of storage and security costs in the event of the liquidation of the electronic voting equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9736/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 60, 67, 220 and 221 together.

The total cost incurred to date in the development and rollout of the electronic voting and counting system is some €51.3 million, which includes €46 million in respect of capital investment in voting machines and ancillary equipment. My Department has spent €731,000 to date on assessment and testing and €273,000 on training returning officer and local authority staff. In addition, information provided by returning officers to my Department indicates that the total annual storage cost for the electronic voting machines and ancillary equipment — including rental, insurance and security costs — is some €696,000. The following table sets out annual storage costs for each of the 25 locations.

The timing of the further use of the system depends on the progress made with the work being undertaken by my Department and by the Commission on Electronic Voting, the associated decisions arising, and the dates on which future polls may be held.