Protecting Gaelic community scheme jobs

The Scottish Government is to provide additional funding to secure the jobs of 27 staff working for a Gaelic community scheme.

An initial payment of £175,000 will be provided to Gaelic development agency Bòrd na Gàidhlig to maintain the role of the community officers, who work to promote the Gaelic language and culture through local projects.

The Scottish Government has asked Bòrd na Gàidhlig to review the scheme and provide a plan for its sustainable operation in future, including support and oversight of the community officers, which will allow ministers to consider further funding to support the scheme.

First Minister Humza Yousaf said:  

“I have been clear about the importance of protecting staff who provide this vital service in our communities. This additional funding will protect these important roles while allowing Bòrd na Gàidhlig to come forward with sustainable options to secure the future of this programme.

“We recognise the significant part Gaelic plays in Scotland’s culture and we want to support the language to grow and thrive.

“Despite the extraordinary financial challenges facing the Scottish Government, Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s core baseline funding has been protected and we are bringing forward the Scottish Languages Bill to provide further protection for Scotland’s indigenous languages.”

Ealasaid MacDonald, Chief Executive, Bòrd na Gàidhlig said:

“I welcome the active partnership and investment from the Scottish Government in the Gaelic officers scheme. Bòrd na Gàidhlig has been in communication with the organisations affected and we will continue to work together to ensure that the scheme contributes to building the capacity for Gaelic across our communities.

“The work of these officers enables opportunities for empowering communities as they determine what they need to allow Gaelic to prosper.”

Background

Bòrd na Gàidhlig initiated Gaelic community development officers scheme in 2021 to provide Gaelic capacity in a number of small bodies throughout Scotland. 

A’ dìon obraichean sgeama coimhearsnachd Gàidhlig

Barrachd maoineachaidh son seirbheis riatanach.

Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba gus barrachd maoineachaidh a thoirt seachad gus glèidheadh dhreuchdan 27 luchd-obrach ann an sgeama coimhearsnachd Gàidhlig.

An toiseach thèid maoineachadh de £175,000 a thoirt don bhuidhinn leasachaidh Bhòrd na Gàidhlig gus glèidheadh àite nan oifigearan coimhearsnachd, a tha ag obair gus a’ Ghàidhlig a chur air adhart tro phròiseactan ionadail.

Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba air faighneachd do Bhòrd na Gàidhlig sgrùdadh a dhèanamh air an sgeama is plana ullachadh airson mar a dh’obraicheas e gu seasmhach san àm ri teachd, a’ gabhail a-steach taic is sgrùdadh de na h-oifigearan coimhearsnachd. Bheir seo cothrom do mhinistearan beachdachadh air barrachd taice don sgeama.

Thuirt am Prìomh Mhinistear, Humza Yousaf:

“Tha mise air a bhith a’ cur ìmpidh air cho cudromach sa tha e a bhith a’ dìon luchd-obrach a tha a’ tabhann na seirbheis riatanaich seo n-ar coimhearsnachdan. Bidh am maoineachadh a bharrachd seo a’ dìon nan dreuchdan cudromach seo is a’ toirt cothrom do Bhòrd na Gàidhlig roghainnean seasmhach ullachadh tron tèid am prògram seo a ghlèidheadh san àm ri teachd.

“Tha sinn ag aithneachadh àite cudromach na Gàidhlig ann an cultar na h-Alba is tha sinn airson taic a chur ri fàs is brosnachadh a’ chànain.

“A dh’aindeoin nan dùbhlan ionmhais iongantach a tha mu choinneamh Riaghaltas na h-Alba chaidh bun-ìre maoineachaidh Bhòrd na Gàidhlig a dhìon is tha sinn a’ toirt air adhart Bile nan Cànan Albannach gus cànain tùsanach na h-Alba buileach a dhìon.”

Thuirt Ceannard Bhòrd na Gàidhlig, Ealasaid Dhòmhnallach:

“Tha mi a’ cur fàilte air mar a tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba gu gnìomhach an sàs ann an com-pàirt is a’ cur airgead ri sgeama oifigearan na Gàidhlig. Tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig air a bhith a’ conaltradh leis na buidhnean air an toir seo buaidh is leanaidh sinn oirnn ag obair còmhla gus a bhith cinnteach gu bheil an sgeama a’ cur ri comas na Gàidhlig air feadh ar coimhearsnachdan.

“Tha obair nan oifigearan seo a’ cruthachadh chothroman a tha a’ toirt cumhachd do choimhearsnachdan taghadh dè a tha a dhìth orrasan gus a’ Ghàidhlig a bhrosnachadh.”

Cùl-fhiosrachadh

Chuir Bòrd na Gàidhlig an sgeama airson oifigearan leasachaidh coimhearsnachd na Gàidhlig an sàs ann an 2021 gus am biodh comas aig àireamh de bhuidhnean beaga mu thimcheall Alba iomairtean Gàidhlig a leantainn.