11/09/2009

Abandonment Of e-Voting To Cost €54.5m

It has been revealed today that almost €54.5m has been spent dismantling the proposed electronic voting system since 2003.

According to a report published today from the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General says over €3m has now been spent on storage of the abandoned voting machines.

The report details the disposal of the equipment and the wind-down of the storage arrangements as ongoing, and continuing to rack up costs.

The report also highlights four long-term storage leases yet to be terminated by the Department of the Environment.

In two cases, leases for storage of the machines were signed up until 2024 and 2029, costing the State up to €25,000 and €16,000 each year respectively.

It is not yet clear whether any money can be clawed back by sale or return of the machines.

The Irish government undertook plans to introduce a nationwide electronic voting system for the local and European Parliament elections in 2004, under the supervision of Martin Cullen, the former Minister for the Environment & Local Government.

It was dissolved in 2006.

In April of this year, Minister for the environment Mr John Gormley announced the electronic voting system was to be scrapped by an as of yet undetermined method, due to cost and the public's satisfaction with the current system.

(DW/GK)


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