Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 399 of 23 June 2009, the contractual and other arrangements which were put in place by the returning officer in South Tipperary for the storage of electronic voting machines; the procurement process used by this returning officer; the duration of the lease; the cost of breaking this lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26593/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Responsibility for the security and safe storage of manual voting electoral materials (such as ballot boxes, stamping instruments and stationery) is a matter for the Returning Officers, who are statutorily responsible for conducting the polls.

Accordingly, similar responsibility was assigned to Returning Officers to make the necessary arrangements in relation to the storage of the electronic voting machines and equipment. Returning Officers undertook the task of procuring suitable accommodation for the electronic voting machines and ancillary equipment. The detailed contractual and other arrangements were put in place by the individual Returning Officers, in exercising their responsibility in this regard.

Based on information provided to my Department by the Returning Officer, the lease on the premises in Clonmel, County Tipperary that was used for the storage of the electronic voting equipment had a duration of 5 years. Following the removal of the machines to Gormanston Army Camp, the lease arrangement was terminated with rent ceasing to be paid from the end of 2007. The information provided to my Department indicates that no additional payment was made in respect of the lease termination.