Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to continue the expenditure on electronic voting with the consequent impact for the taxpayer in view of the current economic climate; if an attempt has been made to dispose of the technology; his views on whether this technology is now worthless and if annual expenditure continues regardless of any future use arising particularly from ongoing contracts and leases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43083/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am at present considering the next steps to be taken in relation to the electronic voting and counting 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, 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.

Given the scale of investment in the system to date, and the importance of the issues involved for our electoral system, it is essential that the future of the project be examined objectively and in a thorough and comprehensive manner. It is not possible to make more specific comment at this point on the project itself, or on future plans for the machines, pending completion of the necessary work and a decision by Government in the matter. With significant resources having been invested in the development of the electronic voting project, it is also reasonable to make adequate and appropriate provision for the storage of the machines. On this issue, the Government decision to proceed with the movement of the electronic voting equipment to centralised premises was the right approach.