Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to recoup to the State the losses incurred through the e-voting project; the way he will dispose of the technology; the mechanism if known whereby he proposes to obtain a release from his contractual obligations in respect of the storage of the equipment; the inquiries made to date with a view to disposal of technology to another jurisdiction or the identification of an alternative use in view of the fact that it is improbable that the technology will ever be used here for its originally intended purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35190/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 552: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has had any inquiries from other jurisdictions interested in purchasing the e-voting technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35567/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 553: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has approached any other jurisdiction with a view to disposing of the e-voting technology and equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35568/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 552 and 553 together.

The Commission on Electronic Voting in its Final Report last year concluded that the electronic voting equipment chosen for use in Ireland could be used, subject to further work which it also recommended.

I am at present considering the next steps to be taken in relation to this project. In this, I am taking into account the work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, relevant experiences and developments internationally, and the need to maintain public confidence in the electoral process, as well as the provisions in the Programme for Government relating to electoral reform generally. My Department has not made or received enquiries or approaches along the lines referred to in the Questions.

Responsibility for storage of manual voting equipment has always been a matter for the local returning officers and so similar responsibility was assigned to them in regard to the electronic voting equipment. In the majority of cases, leases were entered into by them for the storage of the machines, which have a 20-year lifespan. The Government decision to centralise storage of the electronic voting equipment was made taking into account a range of factors, including costs of local and centralised arrangements and the likely benefits to be realised.

My Department engaged consultants with valuation expertise in May 2007, following a tender process, to examine individual lease arrangements and to make recommendations as to termination of the leases, where appropriate. The consultants recommendations are currently under consideration in the Department.