Government bodies to spend €10.5m hiring external contractors to translate documents into Irish
Darragh Mc Donagh
Government bodies are set to spend €10.5 million hiring external contractors to translate press releases, correspondence, legal texts and other official documents into Irish over the next four years.
The Office of Government Procurement is currently seeking tenders from suitably qualified service providers to translate and proofread texts, including annual reports, newspaper articles, website content, and legislation.
The translation services will be used by government ministers and departments, local authorities, health agencies, and a wide range of state bodies, including An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service.
The successful contractor will be permitted to use artificial intelligence (AI) to translate certain categories of text with the permission and instruction of the client, while the use of AI in relation to other texts will be prohibited.
The Office of Government Procurement expects a total of €10.5 million to be spent on translation services under the four-year contract, based on current and future expected demand for the service.
Bodies that will be able to avail of translation services through the framework agreement include the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Defence Forces, Education and Training Boards (ETBs), third-level institutions, and HIQA.
Source material that may require translation into Irish under the contract includes application forms, information leaflets, audit reports, planning reports, and organisational reviews.
Legal texts that will require translation may include EU treaties, regulations, directives, and guidance, as well as domestic primary and secondary legislation. Legal commentary and opinion will also be translated into Irish.
Tender documents state that the use of AI or machine-aided translation in relation to legal texts will not be permitted “due to the complex nature of the source material”.
Prospective service providers have until December 12th to submit a tender, and panels are expected to be established early next year, from which contracts will be awarded through mini-competitions.
