06/05/2008

Do You Speak Zulu?

The Legal Aid Board has announced it is seeking interpreters for the multitude of languages it now has to deal with in asylum cases.

Recent figures have shown interpreters were sought to aid the board in 3,775 consultations in over 80 diverse languages including Arabic, Somali, Farsi and Zulu, to help it aid the thousands of people seeking asylum in Ireland.

Documents were translated from over 44 languages. Around €235,000 was spent on interpretation services, while translations cost the board €75,000 last year.

"People are coming from many countries around the world and not all have sufficient English to conduct their business," a board spokesman said.

Interpreters were needed to aid solicitors discussing clients' circumstances, while documents such as birth certificates must be translated into English.

The board's refugee service provides legal advice and represents applicants at the Refugee Appeals Tribunal if they are not successful on the first stage of their application.

(DW/JM)


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