Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 998: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the estimated costs in 2006 for storage of the electronic voting machines and ancillary equipment in each constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15090/06]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 999: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a report has been carried out by his Department regarding the use of electronic voting machines in future elections; the conclusions of these assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15091/06]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 1000: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if assessments have been carried out by his Department into the storage procedures of the electronic voting machines; if progress has been made on the proposed central storage of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15092/06]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 1001: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if assessments have been carried out by his Department in the storage procedures of the ancillary equipment for the electronic voting machines; if progress has been made on the proposed central storage of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15093/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 998 to 1001, inclusive, together.

A programme of further assessment, testing and validation of the electronic voting and counting system is under way to address issues raised by the Commission on Electronic Voting and demonstrate that the system operates reliably, securely and accurately. The timing of the further use of the system is dependent on the progress made with this work and the ongoing work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, the associated decisions arising in this regard, and the dates at which future polls may be held.

Information provided by returning officers to my Department indicates that the total annual storage cost for the electronic voting machines and ancillary equipment is €696,000.

The following table sets out annual storage costs for each of the 25 locations. I have requested my Department to examine the question of central storage of the voting machines and equipment, and this work is under way.