Written Question · S2W-20307 · Session 2
What action it is taking to promote Gaelic language and culture.
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote Gaelic language and culture.
The answer
The Scottish Executive is committed to securing the status of the Gaelic language and has taken steps to ensure that the use and understanding of Gaelic is promoted across Scotland. The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 creates a statutory body, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, with the functions of promoting the use and understanding of the Gaelic language, Gaelic culture and Gaelic education. Bòrd na Gàidhlig will prepare and submit to ministers for approval a National Gaelic Language Plan setting out strategies for promoting and enabling the use of the Gaelic language. The Bòrd will also work with appropriate public bodies in Scotland to promote the use and understanding of the Gaelic language at a local level.
The Scottish Executive supports the development of Gaelic-medium education through the Specific Grant scheme. This scheme provides additional support totalling £3.8 million in 2005-06 to local authorities to enable the opening of new Gaelic-medium classes and to enable existing Gaelic medium-education provision to expand. Two expert groups have been established to make recommendations to ministers on key areas which need to be addressed to ensure the continued growth in provision of Gaelic-medium education. A Teachers’ Action Group under the chairmanship of Matthew MacIver has made recommendations to ministers on the recruitment and retention of Gaelic-medium teachers. An ICT delivery group under the chairmanship of Bruce Robertson is addressing the expansion of the Gaelic-medium secondary curriculum.
The Scottish Executive also provides £8.5 million to support Gaelic broadcasting and is actively engaged in discussions with key interests in an effort to identify a funding solution that will result in the establishment of a Gaelic digital TV service.
The following table sets out the number of schools with Gaelic-medium classes in the last ten years. This information is not held for each education authority area. We are not aware of any classes that are expected to close but we are aware that Highland Council, Perth and Kinross and North Ayrshire are giving consideration to opening new Gaelic classes.
School Year
| 1995-96
| 1996-97
| 1997-98
| 1998-99
| 1999-2000
| 2000-01
| 2001-02
| 2002-03
| 2003-04
| 2004-05
Primary Schools with Gaelic Classes
| 50
| 52
| 55
| 56
| 59
| 60
| 59
| 58
| 60
| 61
The Scottish Executive supports the development of Gaelic-medium education through the Specific Grant scheme. This scheme provides additional support totalling £3.8 million in 2005-06 to local authorities to enable the opening of new Gaelic-medium classes and to enable existing Gaelic medium-education provision to expand. Two expert groups have been established to make recommendations to ministers on key areas which need to be addressed to ensure the continued growth in provision of Gaelic-medium education. A Teachers’ Action Group under the chairmanship of Matthew MacIver has made recommendations to ministers on the recruitment and retention of Gaelic-medium teachers. An ICT delivery group under the chairmanship of Bruce Robertson is addressing the expansion of the Gaelic-medium secondary curriculum.
The Scottish Executive also provides £8.5 million to support Gaelic broadcasting and is actively engaged in discussions with key interests in an effort to identify a funding solution that will result in the establishment of a Gaelic digital TV service.
The following table sets out the number of schools with Gaelic-medium classes in the last ten years. This information is not held for each education authority area. We are not aware of any classes that are expected to close but we are aware that Highland Council, Perth and Kinross and North Ayrshire are giving consideration to opening new Gaelic classes.
School Year
| 1995-96
| 1996-97
| 1997-98
| 1998-99
| 1999-2000
| 2000-01
| 2001-02
| 2002-03
| 2003-04
| 2004-05
Primary Schools with Gaelic Classes
| 50
| 52
| 55
| 56
| 59
| 60
| 59
| 58
| 60
| 61
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-20307 by reference.