Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the entire cost to date of the electronic voting project including purchase of the machines, maintenance and storage, publicity and all other costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22753/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The total cost incurred to date in the development and roll-out of the electronic voting and counting system is €51.3 million (including some €46 million in respect of hardware costs and €2.6 million in respect of awareness and education initiatives). In addition, information provided by returning officers to my Department indicates that the total annual storage costs incurred by them in respect of the electronic voting machines and ancillary equipment in 2006 was some €706,000, with figures for 2005 and 2004 amounting to some €696,000 and €658,000 respectively.

Significant progress has been made in the transfer of the electronic voting equipment to centralised premises in Gormanston; arrangements are being made to transfer further such equipment to Gormanston. It is not possible to detail conclusively at this stage the total costs which will be associated with the centralised storage arrangements. Costs incurred in respect of the work to date amount to some €254,000. Further costs will be incurred in relation to the completion of the centralised storage arrangements, including buy-out costs.

The Government decision to proceed with the movement of the electronic voting equipment to centralised premises was made taking into account a range of factors, including costs of current and centralised arrangements and the likely benefits to be realised.