Gaston criticises translation bill in NI schools as ‘shocking’ – costs triple over last 5 years

Inset: TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston

• Arabic remains the most expensive language throughout.

• Romanian, Bulgarian, and Farsi have seen the steepest rises.

• Over 30 languages now require translation support.

• Total translation spend more than tripled in five years.

• Five-year translation spend hits over half a million pounds.

  
  

The cost of providing translation services for pupils in Northern Ireland’s schools has more than tripled in the past five years, new figures have revealed — with the total bill rising from £44,000 in 2020/21 to £139,000 in 2024/25.

The data, obtained through an Assembly question by TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston, shows a sharp increase not only in overall expenditure but also in the number and diversity of languages requiring support.

“While there are those who claim that there is no evidence of mass immigration in Northern Ireland, this is another set of data which exposes the truth,” said Mr Gaston.

“Every penny spent by the Education Authority on translation costs for pupils who do not speak English is money which has to be diverted from other pressing needs within our schools.”

Key figures: Arabic, Romanian and Bulgarian drive highest costs

Among the highest translation costs reported in 2024/25:

• Arabic remains the most expensive language, rising from £13,887 in 2020/21 to £31,496 in 2024/25.

• Romanian has seen a 260% increase in translation spending, climbing from £3,354 to £12,072 over the five-year period.

• Bulgarian spending rose by 192%, from £4,211 to £12,305.

• Farsi costs surged by 1,169%, from £154 in 2020/21 to £1,954 in 2024/25.

More languages, more pressure

Table summary showing the rise in translation costs in Northern Ireland schools between 2020/21 and 2024/25, focusing on key languages and total expenditure.

In 2020/21, just 20 languages required translation support. By 2024/25, that number had ballooned to 34 languages, with 11 more used in smaller volumes under £100 in spending.

Languages that previously didn’t feature — or were negligible in cost — such as Tamil, Thai, Greek, Dari, and Vietnamese, now each account for hundreds of pounds annually. Meanwhile, traditional translation needs such as Polish, Portuguese, and Mandarin have remained consistently high.

“The rapid growth of the spend is shocking,” Mr Gaston said. “The figures are a snapshot of long-term costs of immigration policies which are failing and simply aren’t putting the people whose parents and grandparents have paid into the system for years first.”

Cumulative cost analysis (2020/21–2024/25)

• Total spend over five years: approximately £545,000

• Arabic: £110,683 over five years — consistently the top language

• Polish: from £6,755 in 2020/21 to £18,082 in 2024/25

• Languages with the steepest growth: Romanian, Bulgarian, Farsi, and Somali

Impact on schools and integration concerns

Mr Gaston warned that the financial impact of translation is only part of the story, highlighting the challenge of integration and the long-term effects of increasing linguistic diversity in classrooms.

“Over the five-year period… interpreters were required for over 30 different languages including Somali, Pashto, Vietnamese and Kurdish. The presence of so many distinct language groups not only places financial strain on the education system but raises serious questions about integration in the long term.”

He called for immediate policy change:

“We need to urgently move to a migration system which works and is common sense. A basic starting point should be an expectation that people who are permitted to remain in the UK speak English and it doesn’t end up being a costly afterthought and burden on our education system.”

Context and debate

While supporters of immigration cite cultural enrichment and economic contributions, these figures provide tangible insight into one of the hidden costs: multilingual support in education. The issue is increasingly becoming a political flashpoint, with calls for reform around language requirements and integration efforts.

As Northern Ireland’s demographic landscape continues to evolve, translation costs may be just one indicator of broader structural change — and a sign that debates over migration policy are far from settled.