Interpreters in court cases cost €3.8m in three years
»»Expert says bills still way above 2020 levels »»Donohoe rules out more aid for households
Court cases
EXCLUSIVE INTERPRETERS in Irish courts cost almost €4million over three-and -a-half years.
Translators who spoke either Polish, Romanian, or Lithuanian were needed the most between January 2020 and July 2023.
There were 8,156 cases that required a Polish interpreter, 6,459 needed for Romanian, and 3,944 for Lithuanian according to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information request.
In addition, there was also a high demand for Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, Mandarin, Slovak, Georgian, Latvian, and Hungarian interpreters.
In total, the taxpayer forked out €3,843,403.62 for translation services during the period.
There was also a noticeable spike in the need for Ukrainian interpreters since the Russian invasion.
In 2020, they were required for seven cases. In 2021, they were needed for eight. This jumped to 41 in 2022. But during the first seven months of 2023, this more than tripled to 132.
A spokesperson said: “The Courts Service was tasked over the past three decades to meet the challenges of Ireland’s increased ethnic, national, and cultural diversity.
“Such diversity has seen us provide for interpretation in up to 210 different languages and dialects.”
Paschal Donohoe
ENERGY experts say households still face higher bills despite firms reducing prices because the Government has ruled out more credits.
Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe yesterday revealed there are no plans for further financial aid.
It came as Bord Gais revealed electricity and gas price cuts from February 29 – but critics claimed costs remain 90% higher than in 2020.
And this week Electric Ireland announced lower energy rates for its 1.1 million customers by reducing electricity prices by 8% and gas prices by 7%.
The company, Ireland’s largest energy supplier, said it amounts to annual savings of €152.78 on the average annual electricity bill and €111.29 on gas.
Daragh Cassidy of comparison site bonkers.ie warned prices still remain around 85% to 90% higher than they were in 2020 before Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine sent them soaring.
He told RTE radio: “Prices are falling, but they’re falling from really high levels, so it’ll still be a very expensive winter.
“It is disappointing that it is coming in at the end of winter and not beforehand. Even after this cut from Bord Gais, its electricity prices will still be around 90% higher than what were considered normal levels.
“That shows the scale of the energy crisis.
“I’d be calling on the Government to keep the reduced rate of VAT indefinitely because, even though prices are falling, they are going to remain at very high levels.
“Even if we have another round of price reductions this year, our gas and electricity prices are still going to be around 40% to 50% above normal levels.
“Prices are still going to be very high next winter.”
He was speaking as Mr Donohoe ruled out additional aid for households.
The minister told RTE’S Today with Claire Byrne show: “I hope we will see a different situation later on in the year or next year with regards to energy costs. We’re not planning any further support for this year.
“We have a budget which we’re implementing.
“We have, for example, further cost of living support payments that are to be made available by the Department of Social Protection by Minister Heather Humphreys at the moment.
“We laid out a plan for this year. What Budget 2025 will bring, we will deal with in September.”
His comments followed a Bord Gais move to cut electricity unit rates by 10% and gas unit rates by 9.5% from next month for 600,000 customers.
It calculated the move will mean an average annual saving of €190 a for electricity users and a €141 saving for gas.
Sinn Fein’s climate action and environment spokesman Darren O’rourke claimed Irish consumers pay a premium
Irish Mirror reports energy bill cuts compared to the EU. He said: “These recent price decreases are welcome, the reality is customers remain squeezed.
“Yes prices are falling, but they are falling from extortionate levels.
“We cannot ignore the fact that even after the reduction, Bord Gais Energy’s electricity prices will remain around 90% above where they were in 2020.
“Ordinary workers and families continue to struggle under the weight of these sky-high costs.
“The level of arrears continues to grow and energy poverty remains high.
“Heating our homes will remain exorbitantly expensive this winter, particularly as the reduction will not come into effect until [winter] is over.”
Dr Tricia Keilthy, St Vincent de Paul’s head of social justice, yesterday told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: “We must ensure our current support is adequate until our long-term plans are able to reach everyone.”
After the Bord Gais price reduction, which comes into affect on March 1, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said: “I believe they could be doing more, quicker.”
90% 10% How much higher How much Bord Gais will energy prices are now cut electricity prices – compared to 2020 gas will drop by 9.5%