Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 573: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the electronic voting machines. [19528/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 574: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost of storing the electronic voting machines each year to date. [19529/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 575: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans to centralise the storage of the electronic voting machines; and the way such plans can take into account long-term leases which were entered into for the storage of some of these machines. [19530/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 576: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the duration and cost of each contract entered into for the storage of electronic voting machines. [19531/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 573 to 576, inclusive, together.

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; the majority of the electronic voting machines are now stored in containers at Gormanston Camp.

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 2007 is some €489,000, with figures for 2004, 2005 and 2006 amounting to some €658,000; €696,000; and €706,000 respectively. Costs incurred to date in respect of the movement of the electronic voting equipment to centralised storage arrangements are some €328,000. Further costs will be incurred in relation to the completion of these arrangements, including buy-out costs.

The following table sets out information provided by returning officers regarding storage arrangements entered into by them in each of the 25 locations involved.

My Department engaged consultants with valuation expertise in May 2007, following a competitive tendering 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. 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, which has examined the system, 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.