I propose to take Question Nos. 125, 150, 301, 312 and 322 together.
The total cost incurred to date in the development and roll-out of the electronic voting and counting system is €51.3 million (including some €2.6 million in respect of awareness and education initiatives). In addition, information provided by returning officers to my Department indicates that the total annual storage costs incurred by them in respect of the electronic voting machines and ancillary equipment in 2006 was some €706,000, with figures for 2005 and 2004 amounting to some €696,000 and €658,000 respectively. The electronic voting machines do not require maintenance on an ongoing basis.
The following tables set out annual costs for the purchase and transport of the voting machines and information provided by returning officers regarding storage arrangements entered into by them in each of the 25 locations involved:
Voting Machine Purchase and Transport Costs
Year
|
Cost of Purchase of Voting Machines (incl. VAT)
|
Cost of Transport of Voting Machines (incl. VAT)
|
|
€
|
€
|
2001
|
34,776
|
914
|
2002
|
5,548,350
|
8,106
|
2003
|
32,728,080
|
80,597
|
2004
|
2,716,431
|
24,716
|
2005
|
0
|
121
|
2006
|
0
|
0
|
2007 to date
|
0
|
25,118
|
Storage of Electronic Voting Equipment
City/County
|
Location of Storage Premises
|
Annual Storage Costs 2006 (incl. VAT)
|
Lease
|
|
|
€
|
|
Carlow-Kilkenny
|
Mortarstown
|
30,166.00
|
2 years
|
Cavan-Monaghan
|
Monaghan Town
|
27,075.32
|
25 years
|
Clare
|
Ennis
|
3,600.00
|
Monthly basis
|
Cork City
|
Togher
|
53,942.33
|
10 years
|
Cork County
|
Ballygarvan
|
35,124.00
|
Annual basis
|
Donegal
|
Letterkenny
|
16,685.80
|
Annual basis
|
Dublin City
|
Ballycoolin
|
71,265.00
|
8 years
|
Dublin County
|
Finglas
|
49,034.86
|
Annual basis
|
Galway
|
Galway City
|
Nil
|
N/A
|
Kerry
|
Tralee
|
22,624.96
|
10 years
|
Kildare
|
Clane
|
31,984.21
|
9 years 9 months with 5 year break clause
|
Laois-Offaly
|
Portlaoise
|
27,647.60
|
5 years
|
Limerick
|
Limerick City
|
64,465.30
|
4 years 9 months
|
Longford
|
Longford Town
|
18,439.88
|
4 years 9 months
|
Roscommon
|
Roscommon Town
|
9,816.00
|
2 years 6 months
|
Louth
|
Dundalk
|
593.47
|
N/A
|
Mayo
|
Castlebar
|
37,426.00
|
Annual basis
|
Meath
|
Navan
|
21,976.51
|
9 years 9 months
|
Sligo
|
Sligo Town
|
Nil
|
N/A
|
Leitrim
|
Carrick-on-Shannon
|
3,150.00
|
1 year
|
Tipperary (N&S)
|
Clonmel
|
31,200.00
|
5 years
|
Waterford
|
Waterford City
|
57,699.17
|
10 years
|
Westmeath
|
Mullingar
|
21,772.62
|
4 years 9 months
|
Wexford
|
Drinagh
|
19,064.76
|
Monthly basis
|
Wicklow
|
Kilcoole
|
54,241.29
|
Annual basis
|
Significant progress has been made in the transfer of the electronic voting equipment to centralised premises in Gormanston; arrangements are being made to transfer further such equipment to Gormanston. It is not possible to detail conclusively at this stage the total costs which will be associated with the centralised storage arrangements. Costs incurred in respect of the work to date are some €254,000. Further costs will be incurred in relation to the completion of the centralised storage arrangements, including buy-out costs.
The Government decision to proceed with the movement of the electronic voting equipment to centralised premises was made taking into account a range of factors, including costs of current and centralised arrangements and the likely benefits to be realised.
The Cabinet Committee on Electronic Voting established by the previous Government last met on 13 February 2007. I am at present considering the next steps to be taken in relation to the electronic voting and counting project, in association with the provisions in the Agreed Programme for Government relating to electoral reform generally.
My Department has had no approach from other jurisdictions along the lines outlined in Question no. 322.