WIREDGOV

Gaelic version below

The Scottish Government has set out its plans to increase opportunities for Gaelic speakers to use the language when interacting with the organisation.

Minister for Gaelic Fiona Hyslop announced publication of the Government's own Gaelic Language Plan during a visit to Benbecula and South Uist, where she met organisers of Ceòlas, the Gaelic music summer school.

The five-year Plan was prepared following a request from Bòrd na Gàidhlig - the national Gaelic development body - under the terms of the Gaelic (Scotland) Act 2005. All activity in the Scottish Government's Plan is being delivered within existing departmental resources.

Fiona Hyslop said:

"This is a critical time for the future of Gaelic, and a new generation of Gaelic speakers will be key to securing the future of the language. Gaelic Language Plans are about increasing the visibility of the language in everyday life and motivating people to learn and use it.

"The Scottish Government recognises the importance of creating opportunities for the practical use of Gaelic. For example, anyone who writes to us in Gaelic now receives a reply in Gaelic, and we welcome the completion of forms in Gaelic. We will increase the number of summary documents produced in Gaelic. Staff who already have some Gaelic will get the opportunity to develop their skills and opportunities to learn the language will be offered to others.

"Last week Creative Scotland - or Alba Chruthachail - became the first public body whose name has equal status in Gaelic and English.

"All of these small steps increase the use of Gaelic in everyday life and are vital to the language's survival."

Arthur Cormack, Cathraiche (Chair) of Bòrd na Gàidhlig has welcomed the publication of the Plan.

"Bòrd na Gàidhlig sees the publication of the Scottish Government's Gaelic Language Plan as a welcome and positive indication of its continuing commitment to the language. The Scottish Government has signalled that there is real benefit in sustaining and developing Gaelic and this is a practical Plan that not only applies to its own operations, but which offers a lead to other organisations including Government agencies with a clear message that the Scottish Government wants to see a sustainable future for Gaelic. I am confident that other bodies will follow the Scottish Government's lead in making commitments to the Gaelic language, and in implementing their own Gaelic Language Plans.

"Even although times are challenging economically, I believe we are in a time of unprecedented opportunity for the Gaelic language, and it will be important to build on the momentum that has built up over the past few years in increasing the status and use of Gaelic. As recently outlined in the Bòrd's new action plan, Ginealach Ùr na Gàidhlig, we are now focussing on the task of increasing the numbers of Gaelic speakers and the Scottish Government's support in this will be both welcome, and vital."

Bòrd na Gàidhlig is the principal public body responsible for promoting and developing Gaelic. Under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005, the Bòrd has powers to request public bodies to prepare Gaelic language plans.

Bòrd na Gàidhlig has a Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund (GLAIF) of £1.4m to help bodies deliver on commitments of their Plans. The Scottish Government will not be bidding in to the Fund.

On April 13, 2010, at the request of Ministers, Bòrd na Gàidhlig published an Action Plan on creating a new generation of Gaelic speakers.

The Scottish Government's Gaelic Language Plan will support the Bòrd's Action Plan.

On her visit to Benbecula and South Uist, Fiona Hyslop met the organisers of Ceòlas and attended one of the summer schools concerts. Ms Hyslop also attended the opening of the Moving Stories' exhibition hosted by the Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer at Museum nan Eilean.

In Stornoway tomorrow (July 8) the Minister will meet with John Angus Mackay, new Chief Executive of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, visit An Lanntair to learn more about their work to promote Gaelic arts in the islands and meet with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council).

PLANA GAIDHLIG

A' cur an comas conaltradh Gàidhlig leis an Riaghaltas

Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba air ainmeachadh mar a tha e an dùil cothroman air cleachdadh a' chànain ann an conaltradh còmhla ris fhèin a mheudachadh.

Dh'ainmich Fiona Hyslop, Ministear na Gàidhlig, foillseachadh Plana Gàidhlig an Riaghaltais fhèin rè turais gu Beinn na Fadhla agus Uibhist a Deas, far an do choinnich i ri luchd-stiùiridh Ceòlais, sgoil shamhraidh ceòl na Gàidhlig.

Chaidh am Plana còig-bliadhna ullachadh an dèidh iarrtas Bòrd na Gàidhlig - buidheann nàiseanta leasachadh na Gàidhlig - fo chumha Achd (Alba) na Gàidhlig 2005. Thathar a' lìbhrigeadh gach gnìomh an cois Plana Gàidhlig an Riaghaltais an lùib riarachadh stòrasan roinneil an àma seo fhèin.

Thuirt Fiona Hyslop:

"'S e àm èiginneach a th' ann ma tha a' Ghàidhlig gu bhith beò. Bidh ginealach ùr de luchd-labhairt riatanach ann a bhith a' daingneachadh maireannachd a' chànain. Tha Planaichean Gàidhlig ag amas air a' chànan a thoirt am barrachd follais ann am beatha làitheil a' phobaill, agus air an t-sluagh a mhisneachadh gus a h-ionnsachadh 's a bruidhinn.

"Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba ag aithneachadh cho cudromach 's a tha e a bhith a' cruthachadh chothroman air cleachdadh practaigeach na Gàidhlig. Mar eisimpleir, gheibh neach sam bith a sgrìobhas thugainn an-dràsta freagairt sa Ghàidhlig, agus tha sinn a' cur fàilte air foirmichean air an lìonadh innte. Meudaichidh sinn àireamh nan geàrr-sgrìobhainnean a th' air am foillseachadh sa Ghàidhlig. Gheibh luchd-obrach aig a bheil beagan Gàidhlig mu thràth cothrom air an sgilean a leasachadh agus bheirear cothroman do dhaoine eile air a' chànan ionnsachadh.

"An t-seachdain sa chaidh, b' i Alba Chruthachail - no Creative Scotland - a' chiad bhuidheann poblach riamh a fhuair ainmean de dh'inbhe cho-ionann an dà chuid ann an Gàidhlig agus Beurla.

"'S iad na ceumannan beaga seo a tha a' cur Gàidhlig am barrachd follais a' mhòr-shluaigh 's a tha deatamach a thaobh mairsinneachd a' chànain."

Chuir Art MacCarmaig, Cathraiche a' Bhùird, fàilte air Plana an Riaghaltais. Thuirt e: "Tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig a' tomhas a' Phlana seo mar ghnothach adhartach agus misneachail agus mar theisteanas air taic leantainneach dhan Ghàidhlig. Tha Riaghaltas a h-Alba a' comharrachadh gu bheil fìor luach ann a bhith a' cumail taic ris a' chànan agus a bhith ga leasachadh agus tha am Plana seo practaigeach, le buaidh air modhan-obrach an Riaghaltais fhèin agus buidhnean eile co-cheangailte ris, le teachdaireachd gu math làidir dhaibh uile gu bheil e an rùn an Riaghaltais gum bi a Ghàidhlig soirbheachail agus seasmhach san àm ri teachd. Th mi air mo mhisneachadh gun tig buidhnean eile gu bhith a' leantainn eisimpleir an Riaghaltais le Planaichean dhaibh fhèin, agus gum bi iad a' cur an taic ris a' chànan gu follaiseach.

"Ged a tha cùisean dùbhlannach gu h-eaconamach dhuinn uile, tha mi fhèin dhen bharail gu bheil cothroman ro shaoghal na Gàidhlig nach fhacas roimhe seo agus bidh e cudromach gun tog sinn air an impidh a th'air cùl barrachd inbhe agus cleachdadh a nochdadh dhan Ghàidhlig. Mhìnich am Bòrd ann an Ginealach Ùr na Gàidhlig, a dh'fhoillsich sinn bho chionn ghoirid, mar a tha sinn a-nis ag amas gu cinnteach air cur ri àireamhan luchd-cleachdaidh na Gàidhlig agus tha taic Riaghaltais na h-Alba nar rùintean is gnìomh riatanach, air leth feumail agus na mhisneachd dhuinn."

Cùl-fhiosrachadh

Le foillseachadh dreachd phlana, agus an dèidh co-chomhairle, tha Plana Gàidhlig Riaghaltas na h-Alba air fhoillseachadh aig.

'S e Bòrd na Gàidhlig prìomh bhuidheann poblach a tha an urra ri brosnachadh agus leasachadh na Gàidhlig

Fo Achd (Alba) na Gàidhlig, tha cumhachdan aig a' Bhòrd iarraidh air buidhnean poblach planaichean Gàidhlig ullachadh.

Tha Maoin Buileachaidh Achd na Gàidhlig (GLAIF) aig Bòrd na Gàidhlig luach £1.4 millean gus taic a chumail ri buidhnean ann a bhith a' coileanadh ghealltanasan am Planaichean. Cha bhi Riaghaltas na h-Alba a' cur a-steach airson roinn den mhaoin seo ge-tà.

Air 13mh den Ghiblean 2010, air iarrtas Mhinistearan, dh'fhoillsich Bòrd na Gàidhlig Plana Gnìomha le rùn ginealach ùr de luchd-labhairt Gàidhlig a chruthachadh.

Gheibhear am fios naidheachd aig Riaghaltas na h-Alba a tha co-cheangailte ris an seo.

Bidh Plana Gàidhlig Riaghaltas na h-Alba mar chùl-taic do Phlana Gnìomha a' Bhùird.

Rè a turais gu Beinn na Fadhla agus Uibhist a Deas, choinnich Fiona Hyslop ri luchd-stiùiridh Ceòlais agus fhritheil i aon de chuirmean-ciùil na sgoile samhraidh. Fhritheil a' Bh-uas Hyslop fosgladh an taisbeanaidh, Moving Stories, a chaidh a chumail le Oifigear-riaghlaidh Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ann am Museum nan Eilean.

A-màireach (8 Iuchar), bidh am Ministear a' coinneachadh ri Iain Aonghas MacAoidh, Ceannard ùr Bòrd na Gàidhlig, ann an Steòrnabhagh. Bidh i a' tadhal air An Lanntair gus ionnsachadh mu an obair a thaobh meudachadh nan ealan Gàidhlig sna h-eileanan, agus a' coinneachadh ri Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

Related Information