Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 400: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the work of the Task Force on the Cessation of the Electronic Voting Project; if he will confirm if the tendering process has yet been concluded and a contract agreed for the disposal of the e-voting machines; if not, the reason for the delay and when a contractor will be chosen; if he will consider having all e-voting machines not held in Gormanston Army Camp stored at Gormanston Camp from the 13 other local premises as a matter of urgency in order to avoid further storage costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30804/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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.

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. 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.

It is intended that all machines will be removed from their present locations when arrangements for disposal are implemented.