Storage bill for e-voting machines still rising as Government stalls
Monday October 26 2009
THEY are the great symbol of waste from Celtic Tiger Ireland.
And it seems, despite the ongoing storage costs, the Government is still trying to decide what to do with the €55m e-voting machines, six months after the controversial scheme was scrapped.
Environment Minister John Gormley has said a task force has been set up to determine the fate of the machines, but no decision had yet been made.
The minister was responding to a Dail question on the issue by Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan.
The scheme was abandoned in April after running up €51m in costs. The machines have been in storage since. Minister Gormley said the task force had been set up to bring the project to an orderly conclusion.
"On April 23, 2009 I announced that the Government had decided not to proceed with implementation of electronic voting in Ireland," the minister said.
"Since then, a process has been put in place to address the issues that arise from the decision. An interdepartmental task force, chaired by my department, has been established to bring the project to an orderly conclusion and to oversee disposal of the equipment and termination of storage arrangements."
The task force met for the first time in July.
"In considering options for the disposal of the equipment, the priority is to pursue the most economically advantageous approach, with a view to achieving the maximum recovery of cost possible in the circumstances, consistent with environmental and other obligations.
"Detailed consideration of all relevant factors is underway to inform the manner in which the disposal of the machines will be effected. This includes contact with the original suppliers of the machines."
Some 60pc of the machines, totalling 4,762, were moved from 12 local storage locations around the country to a central facility at Gormanston Army Camp.
The 13 remaining machines are being stored at 13 local premises that had been selected for the purpose by returning officers.
"It is intended that all machines will be removed from their present locations when arrangements for disposal are implemented."
aphelan@herald.ie
- Andrew Phelan
