Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 604: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total cost respectively for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and budgeted for 2012 for storing the E-voting machines; the progress he has made towards selling the E-voting machines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26877/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The total costs for storage of the electronic voting equipment for the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 are set out in the following table.

Storage costs are collated annually and figures for 2012 are not yet available. Over 60% of the electronic voting machines (4,762 in total) are stored at Gormanston Army Camp where there are no ongoing rental costs in respect of the use of this property. Costs of €552.83 were incurred in 2009 in respect of equipment to monitor the environmental storage conditions at the Gormanston premises and these are incorporated into the above table. The remaining machines, apart from a small number kept in the Custom House, are stored at 13 local premises that were originally identified by Returning Officers for this purpose.

Following the Government meeting of 11 January 2012, a Request for Tenders was published on 19 January 2012 seeking proposals for either the purchase of the equipment or for its recovery as waste, consistent with environmental and other obligations. The deadline for receipt of tenders was set for 3pm on 15 March 2012. Seven tenders were received by this time and these have been considered by the Task Force on the Cessation of the Electronic Voting Project. The process to conclude the tendering process and to agree a contract with a preferred tenderer is expected to be completed shortly.