Electronic Management System.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 February 2006

Wednesday, 1 February 2006

Ceisteanna (240)

John Deasy

Ceist:

329 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the security and risk assessment of all aspects of the electronic voting system; the cost per day of the consultants carrying out the security and risk assessment; the additional hardware and software which will be required to address the issues raised by the Commission on Electronic Voting; the cost of such additional hardware and software; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3470/06]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

As part of a programme of further assessment, testing and validation of the electronic voting and counting system, my Department appointed consultants in July 2005, following an open tender competition, to undertake a security and risk assessment of all aspects of the chosen system and to devise a comprehensive programme of additional testing. This work is intended to address issues raised by the Commission on Electronic Voting and to demonstrate that the system operates reliably, securely and accurately.

The consultancy was commissioned on a fixed-price basis and the total cost of the work is €92,300, excluding VAT. The consultants' work is well under way and will be completed as soon as possible. Pending completion of the work and consideration of the outcome, it is not possible to quantify additional costs that may arise in this regard.