Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if any curtailments of expenditure are expected to take place in respect of electronic voting with particular reference to the ongoing annual costs involved in view of the economic situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43278/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a buyer has been found for the electronic voting technology which is costing the taxpayer an increasing amount annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43279/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has sought, received or offered any solution to the ongoing costly problem of the electronic voting technology now in storage and expected to be so for the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43280/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 to 144, inclusive, together.

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.

I am aware of the issues that have been raised in relation to storage arrangements for the machines. On this matter, the Government decision to proceed with the movement of the electronic voting equipment to centralised premises was the right approach. 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 important that we come to the best decision possible. 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.