Driving growth in Gaelic and island communities

Steps to support Gaelic entrepreneurs and assess the benefits of the language to Scotland’s visitor economy have been announced by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes.

A report on Economic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic was commissioned as part of the Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation.

Responding to its recommendations, Ms Forbes highlighted policies contained in the Scottish Languages Bill, including a requirement for education authorities to support access to Gaelic medium education, which will enable more people to speak the language.

She also announced new grants totalling £1 million from the Carbon Neutral Islands project. Recipients include schemes to support affordable housing and restore habitats in Raasay.

Ms Forbes, who is also Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, said:

“Gaelic is recognised globally as a fundamental part of Scotland’s heritage. It enriches Scotland’s culture and is a source of wider national wealth. This report makes clear that the language is both an asset to the Scottish economy and that our economic policy is vital to the survival of traditional Gaelic communities.

“We will ensure that more Gaelic entrepreneurs are able to benefit from flagship support programmes such as Techscalers, that parents are able to access Gaelic medium education for their children and that we understand the role Gaelic plays in attracting domestic and international tourists.

“To enable island communities to thrive, we have also announced Carbon Neutral Islands funding today which will support energy efficiency in homes and job opportunities.”

The Short Life Working Group on Economic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic was headed by Arthur Cormack, chief executive of Fèisean nan Gàidheal, and published its report last year. Today’s response from the Scottish Government is available online.

The Carbon Neutral Islands progress report is available online.

Six projects are being supported by the latest Carbon Neutral Islands funding, which is part of a total investment of £1.3 million in 2024-25 by the project, which also includes Yell and Hoy. They are:

• Great Cumbrae: Installing roof-mounted solar panels on homes in Millport.
• Islay: Continuing the development of a tree nursery alongside a community orchard and wood fuel supply infrastructure; Renewable energy developments in seven community buildings across the island.
• Barra: Decarbonising the Cobhair Bharraigh community hub.
• Raasay: Transforming three vacant properties into affordable rental homes with zero direct emission heating systems; Restoring habitats on the island through the removal of invasive species.   

A’ cur ri fàs ann an coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig agus eileanach

A’ leasachadh na Gàidhlig gus eaconamaidh na h-Alba a neartachadh.

Dh’fhoillsich Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba, Ceit Fhoirbeis, ceuman gus taic a chur ri luchd-tionnsgain Gàidhlig is measadh a dhèanamh air luach a’ chànain do dh’eaconamaidh turasachd na h-Alba.

Chaidh aithisg air Cothroman Eaconamach is Sòisealta don Ghàidhlig a choimiseanadh mar phàirt den Ro-innleachd Nàiseanta airson Cruth-atharrachadh a thoirt air an Eaconamaidh aig an Riaghaltas.

Chuir a’ Bh-uas Fhoirbeis am follais poileasaidhean an lùib Bile nan Cànan Albannach, ’s i a’ freagairt mholaidhean na h-aithisg, nam measg, bha feum airson ùghdarrasan foghlaim a bhith a’ cur taic ri daoine gus cothrom fhaighinn air foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig, rud a nì e comasach do bharrachd a bhith a’ bruidhinn a’ chànain.

Dh’fhoillsich i cuideachd grantaichean ùra aig a bheil luach £1 millean air fad bhon phròiseact airson Eileanan a tha Neodrach a Thaobh Carboin. Am measg nan sgeamaichean a gheibh taic às tha: sgeamaichean ann an Ratharsair airson taic a chur ri taighean aig prìs reusanta agus ath-stèidheachadh a dhèanamh air àrainnean.

Thuirt a’ Bh-uas Fhoirbeis, a tha cuideachd na Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson na h-Eaconamaidh agus Gàidhlig:

“Tha a’ Ghàidhlig air a h-aithneachadh air feadh na cruinne mar bhun-stèidh de dhualchas na h-Alba. Tha i a’ cur ri cultar na h-Alba is mar phàirt de shoirbheas na dùthcha san fharsaingeachd. Tha an aithisg seo ga dhèanamh soilleir gu bheil an cànan na buannachd do dh’eaconamaidh na h-Alba agus gu bheil ar poileasaidhean eaconamach riatanach ma tha ar coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig traidiseanta a’ dol a mhaireachdainn.

“Nì sinn cinnteach gun urrainn do luchd-tionnsgain na Gàidhlig buannachd fhaighinn à prìomh phrògraman taice leithid Techscalers, gun urrainn do phàrantan cothrom fhaighinn air foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig don chloinn aca agus bheil sinn a’ tuigsinn an àite aig Gàidhlig ann a bhith a’ tàladh luchd-turais ionadail agus eadar-nàiseanta.

“Gus coimhearsnachdan eileanach a neartachadh, tha sinn an-diugh cuideachd air maoineachadh fhoillseachadh airson Eileanan a tha Neodrach a Thaobh Carboin a chuireas taic ri èifeachdas cumhachd ann an dachaighean agus cothroman obrach.”

B’ e Art MacCarmaig, Ceannard Fèisean nan Gàidheal, an cathraiche a bh’ aig a’ Bhuidhinn obrach Gheàrr-ùine air Cothroman Eaconamach is Sòisealta don Ghàidhlig. Gheibhear freagairt Riaghaltas na h-Alba don Bhuidhinn-obrach Gheàrr-ùine air Cothroman Eaconamach is Sòisealta don Ghàidhlig air-loidhne.

Gheibhear an aithisg adhartais airson Eileanan a tha Neodrach a Thaobh Carboin air-loidhne.

Tha sia pròiseactan a’ faighinn taic bhon mhaoineachadh as ùire airson Eileanan a tha Neodrach a Thaobh Carboin, a tha na phàirt de £1.3 millean not a chaidh a thasgadh leis a’ phròiseact air fad ann an 2024-25, is a tha cuideachd a’ gabhail a-steach Yell agus Hoy. ’S iad:

• Cumaradh Mòr: A bhith a’ cur phanailean grèine air mullach dhachaighean ann am Port a’ Mhuillinn.
• Ìle: A bhith a’ cur ri leasachadh lios-àraich airson chraobhan còmhla ri lios-ùbhlan is stòras airson connadh fiodha às leth na coimhearsnachd; Leasachaidhean airson cumhachd ath-nuadhachail ann an seachd togalaichean coimhearsnachd air feadh an eilein.
• Barraigh: A’ dì-charbonachadh ionad coimhearsnachd Cobhair Bharraigh.
• Ratharsair: A’ toirt cruth-atharrachadh air trì làraichean falamh gus am bi iad ri fhaighinn mar dhachaighean air màl reusanta anns a bheil siostaman teasachaidh a tha neodrach a thaobh carboin; A bhith ag ath-stèidheachadh àrainnean air an eilean tro bhith a’ toirt air falbh gnèithean-beatha sgaoilteach.

Picture credit; Castlebay Town in Barra, by steve_is_on_holiday via Canva