Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the total expenditure incurred to date in respect of electronic voting including promotion, storage, research or any other associated costs; if he has in mind any proposals or plans to fully reimburse the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16561/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to negotiate a sale of the electronic voting technology with a view to reimbursing the taxpayer in respect of the costs incurred to date and future storage costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16806/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 241 together.

The total cost incurred to date in the development and roll-out of the electronic voting and counting system is some €51.3 million. 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 is some €696,000.

A programme of further assessment, testing and validation of the electronic voting and counting system is underway in my Department 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.