Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the contingency plans which are in place to recycle or otherwise dispose of the electronic voting machines in the event of an unfavourable report from the Commission on Electronic Voting on their suitability for use; the contingency plans which are in place; if he intends to use the machines in the event of a favourable report from the Commission on Electronic Voting; the election at which he would intend that the electronic voting machines would be used if the CEV reports favourably; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22506/06]

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if e-voting machines have been examined for signs of rust or damage since they were put into storage; if the security seals have been checked on each machine; when they were last checked; if security seals were broken; the percentage of the machines which are still in a usable condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22501/06]

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he would expect to have a Government decision on the use or not of electronic voting in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22502/06]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of e-voting machine storage facilities which are the subject of long-term lease agreements between the State and the owners of such facilities; the locations of each of these facilities; the length of time each agreement lasts; and the amount the State is liable to pay per annum in respect of these agreements in the event of the Government deciding to abandon electronic voting. [22500/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if efforts have been made to dispose of the electronic voting technology and appliances by sale or tender; if there have been inquiries from other jurisdictions in this regard; if it is possible to realise the expenditure to date from any such sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22462/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the nature, extent and cost of the ongoing testing and evaluation of the e-voting technology; the number of staff and work hours dedicated to the project; if it is intended to incur further expenditure on the system and for what purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22826/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 79, 129, 139, 153 and 454 together.

A programme of further assessment, testing and validation of the electronic voting and counting system is underway to address issues raised by the Commission on Electronic Voting and demonstrate that the system operates reliably, securely and accurately. As part of this programme, my Department engaged consultants in July 2005 to undertake a security and risk assessment of all aspects of the system and to devise a programme of additional testing. The consultancy work, costing €92,300 (excluding VAT), is well underway and will be completed as soon as possible.

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. My Department has had no approach from other jurisdictions in relation to this matter on the lines referred to in Question No. 153.

My Department's Franchise Section is responsible for a range of matters relating to the electoral system, including implementation of the electronic voting and counting system. At present, three staff in the Section work on, inter alia, matters relating to the system.

Responsibility for the security and safe storage of manual voting equipment (such as ballot boxes, stamping instruments, and stationery) is a matter for Returning Officers, who are statutorily responsible for conducting the polls. Accordingly, similar responsibility was assigned to them in relation to the storage of the electronic voting machines and equipment. The electronic voting machines do not require maintenance on an ongoing basis.

The following table sets out information provided by Returning Officers regarding storage arrangements entered into by them in each of the 25 locations involved. While I have requested my Department to examine the question of centralised storage of the voting machines, it would not be appropriate to comment at this stage on detailed costs that might be involved in the buy-out of leases given the commercial considerations involved.