Additional funding for South Uist community centre

A community hub in South Uist is set to be extended, providing more education and social opportunities to local residents.

On Monday (27 March 2023), John Swinney as Deputy First Minister,  undertook his final Ministerial engagement by chairing the Convention of Highlands and Islands (CoHI), which he has chaired on every occasion it has met since the current Government was elected in 2007.

The Convention took place at Cnoc Soilleir, which the Deputy First Minister formally opened in September 2022. The modern facility hosts a range of events, including Gaelic education and music, and provides a base for activities run by the University of the Highlands and Islands Outer Hebrides.

It has now been granted a further £2 million by the Scottish Government for Phase 2 of the project comprising an auditorium accommodating up to 200 people, as well as rehearsal and teaching rooms. The additional funding takes the Scottish Government’s total support to £5.75 million.

Mr Swinney made the funding announcement ahead of CoHI.

He said:

“I am delighted to announce this additional funding for such an important project that is already hugely popular amongst local residents. The new facilities will provide further employment, educational and social opportunities for the island, attract high calibre touring events and, crucially, help increase the number of people learning Gaelic.

“It is fitting that the centre will be hosting CoHI, a vibrant forum that enables the Scottish Government, member organisations and businesses to discuss local issues and find ways of ensuring the region continues to flourish.

“It has been an enormous privilege for me to chair every Convention of the Highlands and Islands for the last 16 years. I have greatly valued the opportunity to engage with communities and public authorities across the Highlands and Islands and to ensure important issues raised at the Convention are addressed at the very heart of Government in Scotland. I am indebted to everyone who has contributed to this effective partnership over these years.”

Tuilleadh maoineachaidh do dh’ionad coimhearsnachd ann an Uibhist a Deas

Chaidh sùim £2 mhillean ainmeachadh aig Co-chruinneachadh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean.

Thathar gu bhith a’ toirt leudachadh air ionad coimhearsnachd ann an Uibhist a Deas, far am bi barrachd chothroman ionnsachaidh is sòisealta ann do mhuinntir an àite.

Bidh an Leas Phrìomh Mhinistear, Iain Swinney, a’ frithealadh an tachartais phoblaich mu dheireadh aige san dreuchd sin Diluain agus e sa chathair aig Co-chruinneachadh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean (CnGE), tachartas aig an robh e sa chathair a h-uile turas a chaidh a chumail bho chaidh an Riaghaltas a th’ ann an-dràsta a thaghadh an toiseach ann an 2007.

Thèid an Co-chruinneachadh a chumail aig Cnoc Soilleir, a dh’fhosgail an Leas Phrìomh Mhinistear gu h-oifigeil san t-Sultain 2022. Bithear a’ cumail caochladh sheòrsa tachartais sa ghoireas ùr seo, leithid chlasaichean Gàidhlig agus tachartasan ciùil, agus tha e mar dhachaigh do chùrsaichean is tachartasan air an ruith le Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean – Innse Gall. 

Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba a-nis air £2 mhillean a bharrachd a chomharrachadh airson Ìre 2 dhen phròiseact far am bithear a’ togail talla a ghabhas suas ri 200 neach, agus seòmraichean airson teagasg agus obair ullachaidh. Tha am maoineachadh a bharrachd a’ ciallachadh gu bheil Riaghaltas na h-Alba air £5.75 millean uile-gu-lèir a thoirt seachad mar thaic-airgid dhan phròiseact seo.

Dh’ainmich Mgr Swinney am maoineachadh ùr ro ChnGE.

Thuirt e:

“Tha e a’ toirt toileachas mòr dhomh innse mun mhaoineachadh a bharrachd seo do phròiseact a tha cho cudromach agus ionad air a bheil muinntir an àite gu math measail mu thràth. Leis na goireasan ùra seo, gheibhear barrachd chothroman cosnaidh, oideachaidh agus sòisealta do na h-eileanaich, agus bidh e comasach dhaibh buidhnean cleasachd, ciùil is eile a tharraing chun an eilein airson tachartasan, agus, gu fìor chudromach, cuidichidh iad le bhith a’ toirt fàs air an àireimh dhaoine a tha ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig.

“’S ann iomchaidh a tha e gu bheil CnGE ga chumail san ionad, co-chruinneachadh smiorail far an urrainn do Riaghaltas na h-Alba, buidhnean aig a bheil ballrachd agus gnothachasan bruidhinn air cùisean ionadail agus dòighean a lorg a nì cinnteach gun lean an soirbheas a tha sinn air fhaicinn san sgìre.

“Tha e air a bhith na urram mòr dhomh a bhith sa chathair aig a h-uile Co-chruinneachadh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean sna 16 bliadhna a dh’fhalbh. Tha cothrom glè luachmhor air a bhith agam conaltradh a dhèanamh agus dàimh a thogail ri coimhearsnachdan is ùghdarrasan poblach air feadh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean agus gus dèanamh cinnteach gum bi an Riaghaltas ann an Alba a’ gabhail làn ealla ris na cùisean cudromach a chaidh a thogail aig a' Cho-chruinneachadh. Tha mi gu mòr an comain a h-uile neach a tha air cuideachadh leis a’ chom-pàirteachas bhuadhach seo thar nam bliadhnaichean.”