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Funding will support the production of Gaelic language content, and continue providing a valued service for Gaelic speakers in Scotland. 

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, today (Tuesday 19 August) announced that the funding provided by the UK government to MG ALBA from 2014 to 2016 would increase by £1 million, doubling the government’s overall contribution to £2 million.

This additional £1 million is being made available this year (2014 to 2015) to support MG ALBA in producing high-quality Gaelic language content, including original dramas, and continue providing a valued service for Gaelic speakers in Scotland.

This builds on last year’s announcement by the government of £1 million for MG ALBA in 2015 to 2016, demonstrating the UK government’s sustained support for minority language broadcast services.

MG ALBA will use the extra funding to build on the success BBC ALBA has already achieved since it was established, reaching over 750,000 viewers a week on average.

Over 80 people from the independent production sector, the BBC and MG ALBA work at the MG ALBA campus, in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, broadcasting and producing Gaelic language programmes.

While visiting the MG ALBA campus Danny Alexander said:

I am delighted to be able to announce another £1 million of funding for MG ALBA this year. As someone who grew up in the islands, I know how important this service is to Gaelic speakers throughout Scotland and want to see it continue to grow.

Last year, I announced the first UK government funding for this service, to help them invest in quality Gaelic language drama. MG ALBA came back to me earlier this year, to say they could get this work going more quickly, and I am delighted to be able to give a positive response today.

The Gaelic language is an important part of the cultural heritage of this country, so it is right that the UK government should help.

This is an illustration of how Scotland has the best of both worlds – the UK’s broad shoulders coupled with devolution allows real investment in public services and the flexibility to spend it where it is needed.

Maggie Cunningham, chairperson of MG ALBA, which operates BBC ALBA in partnership with the BBC, welcomed the additional investment in the channel. She said:

This additional support is most welcome as it helps enable the channel to drive forward its commitment to developing programme-making in key areas of the channel’s creative operations.

It is very reassuring to see continuing support for Gaelic and BBC ALBA from across the political spectrum at both Scottish and UK levels.

BBC ALBA is founded on a partnership established in 2008 between MG ALBA and the BBC, providing Gaelic television, radio and online services. It is available on Freeview throughout Scotland and satellite and cable television throughout the UK.

BBC ALBA, in 2013 to 2014, attracted an average weekly audience of over 750,000 viewers, with 6.8 million watching BBC ALBA’s content via the BBC iPlayer.

MG ALBA is responsible for the provision of Gaelic broadcasting, and is regulated by Ofcom with its board appointed by the Secretary of State in consultation with the Scottish ministers.

An Riaghaltas a’ foillseachadh millean nota a bharrachd airson MG ALBA

An-diugh, dh’fhoillsich Danny Alexander BP, Àrd-Rùnaire an Ionmhais, gun dheigheadh àrdachadh de mhillean nota a chuir ri maoineachadh MG ALBA airson 2014-16, a’ dùblachadh tabhartas an Riaghaltais gu h-iomlan gu £2m.

Bidh am millean nota seo ri fhaotainn am-bliadhna (2014-15) gus obair MG ALBA ann a bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh stuthan Gàidhlig aig àrd ìre a choileanadh, nam measg nuadh-dràma, agus a bhith a’ tairgse seirbheis luachmhor airson luchd-bruidhinn na Gàidhlig. Tha seo a’ togail air a’ mhillean nota a bharrachd a chaidh ainmeachadh an-uiridh leis an Riaghaltas airson MG ALBA ann an 2015-16, a’ sealltainn taic leantainneach an Riaghaltais airson seirbheisean craolaidh mion-chànain.

Cuiridh MG ALBA an t-airgead a bharrachd gu feum gus togail air an t-soirbheas a th’ air a bhith aig BBC ALBA bho thòisich e, le cuibheasach de luchd-amhairc seachdainneach de còrr is 750,000.

Tha còrr is 80 neach bhon roinn riochdachaidh neo-eisimeileach, am BBC agus MG ALBA ag obair aig àrainn MG ALBA ann an Steòrnabhagh air Eilean Leòdhais, a’ craoladh agus a’ riochdachadh phrògraman Gàidhlig.

Air thuras gu àrainn MG ALBA, thuirt Danny Alexander BP, Àrd-Rùnaire an Ionmhais:

Tha mi air leth toilichte am maoineachadh a bharrachd a tha seo airson MG ALBA fhoillseachadh am-bliadhna. Chaidh mise a thogail sna h-eileanan, agus tha làn fhios agam cho cudromach ’s a tha an t-seirbheis seo airson luchd-bruidhinn na Gàidhlig and tha mi airson a faicinn a’ dol am meud agus a’ fàs.

An-uiridh, dh’fhoillsich mi a’ chiad maoineachadh bho riaghaltas na RA airson na seirbheis seo, gus cuideachadh a thoirt dhaibh le dràma Gàidhlig. An dèidh do MG ALBA a ràdh na bu thràithe am-bliadhna gum biodh iad air chomas an obair seo a choileanadh nas tràithe, tha mi air leth thoilichte an naidheachd seo a sgaoileadh an-diugh.

Tha Gàidhlig na pàirt chudromach de dhualchas chultarail ar dùthcha agus tha e iomchaidh gu bheil Riaghaltas na RA a’ toirt cuideachadh seachad.

“The seo mar shamhla air mar a tha a’ chuid as fheàrr aig Alba bho gach taobh – tha guailnean leathan na RA ann an co-bhonn le fèin-riaghladh na h-Alba a’ ceadachadh airgead-seilbhe brìoghmhor a chuir gu ruige seirbheisean poblach agus sùbailteachd a chosg far a bheil feum.”

Chuir Magaidh Choineagan, Cathraiche MG ALBA a tha a’ ruith BBC ALBA ann an co-bhanntachd leis a’ BhBC, fàilte air an airgead-seilbhe seo airson na seanail.

Thuirt i:

Tha sinn a’ cur fàilte chridheil air an taic a bharrachd seo agus bheir e cothrom dhan t-seanail a gualainn a chur ri leasachadh phrògraman anns na roinnean as cudromaiche de dh’obair chruthachail na seanail.

Tha e a’ toirt fois inntinn dhuinn a bhith a’ faicinn taic a’ leantainn airson na Gàidhlig agus airson BBC ALBA bho raon fharsaing phoilitigeach aig ìre na h-Alba agus na RA.

Tha BBC ALBA, a chaidh a stèidheachadh ann an 2008 agus a tha air a ruith le MG ALBA ann an co-bhanntachd ris a’ BhBC, a’ toirt seirbheisean telebhisein, rèidio agus air-loidhne gu luchd-amhairc.

Thàlaidh BBC ALBA, ann an 2013-14, cuibheasach de luchd-amhairc seachdainneach de còrr is 750,000, le 6.8 millean a’ coimhead phrògraman BBC ALBA tro iPlayer a’ BhBC.

Tha raon ùghdarras aig MG ALBA craoladh Gàidhlig a lìbhrigeadh. Tha iad air an riaghladh le Ofcom agus tha am Bòrd aca air a chuir an sàs le Rùnaire na Stàite.