Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 380: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount that was spent as an initial outlay on electronic voting machines; the amount that is being spent to rent or lease the voting machines annually; and the amount that is being spent storing these machines annually. [12873/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The total expenditure on the development and roll-out of the electronic voting system to date is some €51.3 million, the bulk of which has been incurred in purchasing the voting machines and ancillary equipment. The machines were purchased and there are therefore no ongoing lease costs related to their ownership. Based on figures received in my Department from Returning Officers, the total annual costs for storage of the electronic voting equipment (including the cost of insurance, service charges, rates and heating) for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 were some €658,000; €696,000; €706,000; €489,000; and €204,000 respectively. In 2007, over 60% of the electronic voting machines (some 4,762 in total) were moved to a central storage facility located at Gormanston Army Camp. Costs incurred to date in respect of the movement and storage of this equipment are some €328,000.