Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004
186 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will publish the list of translation services that he has circulated to all public bodies; the average cost of translating 1,000 words among these translation services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30837/04]
View answerA list of translators has not been circulated to all public bodies. My Department does, however, maintain a list of translators for internal use and has made it available to other public bodies on request. The inclusion of a translator on this list neither purports to be nor constitutes a recommendation or an endorsement by my Department of any translator listed.
Foras na Gaeilge has initiated a process by which a quality assurance system will be put in place for private sector translation services. When in place, this will be of practical assistance to public bodies that need to source external translation services. It is and will remain the responsibility of third parties to inform themselves of the translation services available and to satisfy themselves as to the quality and value for money of the services on offer. The rates charged by individual translators are a commercial matter for negotiation with them by the public body concerned. I understand that current rates vary in the range €100 to €250 per 1,000 words.
