A GOVERNMENT task force is trying to decide how to dispose of electronic voting machines, following the scrapping of the scheme which cost over €51 million to develop, the Dáil was told.

Minister for the Environment John Gormley said the task force had been established to bring the project to “an orderly conclusion’’ and had its first meeting last July.

“In considering options for disposal of the equipment, the priority is to pursue the most economically advantageous approach with a view to achieving the maximum recovery of costs possible in the circumstances, consistent with environmental and other obligations,’’ he added. Labour environment spokesman Ciarán Lynch said that everyone knew that the machines were “the equivalent of playstation ones’’ that would expire within a certain timeframe.

“The idea that leases were taken out for 20 or 25 years on a product that had a certain shelf life was madness in the first instance,’’ he added.

Mr Gormley said that a 25-year lease in Cavan-Monaghan had been the subject of much public comment, but it was exceptional.

In 2007, he added, over 60 per cent of the machines, some 4,762, were moved from 12 local storage locations to a central facility at Gormanston Army camp. The remaining machines were stored at 13 local premises, originally identified by returning officers.

Work on the termination of local lease arrangements was proceeding, he added.

Mr Gormley said that consultants had recommended termination of leases in seven cases, and this had since occurred at three locations, with no additional payments. Work was ongoing on concluding the other four leases.

“It is expected that, in certain instances, termination of lease arrangements will give rise to buyout costs and these will be dependent on the outcome of negotiations,’’ he added.

Mr Gormley said his department had informed returning officers that the machines should be stored preferably in appropriate public buildings where payment of rent was not required.

Storage costs last year amounted to €204,000, lower than those for previous years, said Mr Gormley. Costs for the years 2004 to 2007 were €658,000, €696,000, €706,000 and €489,000 respectively.

“Pending the removal of the machines, there will continue to be ongoing storage costs,’’ he added.

“This was factored into the analysis and informed the decision to end the electronic voting project.’’