€95,000 spent on court translations

Almost €95,000 has been spent on translation services in Cavan Courts over the past three years.

Figures released to The Anglo-Celt under the Freedom of Information Act give a breakdown of the cost of providing both spoken and written translations to local Courts between 2019 and mid-2021.

A total of €48,745.98 was spent on translations in local district and circuit Courts throughout 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic saw the figure cut by more than half in 2020 with €23,397.77 spent that year.

Figures for 2021 only cover between January 1 and June 30. The Courts Service says invoices for the period from July 1 have not yet been fully processed and collated. €22,506.67 was spent in the first half of the year.

The Courts Service says it is not possible to provide a breakdown of the languages for which translators were required in Cavan as records are not kept.

However, it’s understood Lithuanian, Polish and Bulgarian are among the most common languages requiring translation in Cavan courts.

Translation services can cover spoken translations, sign language or document translation, including legal submissions and Judges' rulings in both criminal and civil matters.