Immigrant translation service could mirror Portugal’s

A LOCAL translation service in each city and county for immigrants using courts, schools, councils and other public services is being considered by Integration Minister Conor Lenihan.

He has already visited Portugal to see how a similar scheme operates to help co-ordinate interpretation and intercultural understanding between migrants and state services.

The plan is that public spending on translators for the Courts Service, which is expected to pay €2.5 million for interpreter services this year, local authorities and other agencies could be better organised. “We’re looking at a one-stop shop for state and other service providers. The courts system has been hiring interpreters individually and others do the same, but the extent to which we can save money by not duplicating is enormous,” said Mr Lenihan.