COMHAIRLE LAUNCHES REVISED GAELIC POLICY

An diugh aig coinneamh de Foram Cànan agus Cultar na Gàidhlig, dh'fhoillsich Comhairle nan Eilean Siar am poileasaidh Gàidhlig ath-sgrùdaichte aca. Tha am poileasaidh a' mìneachadh rùintean agus amasan na Comhairle a-thaobh cleachdadh agus leasachadh a' chànain.

'Se amas a' phoileasaidh anns an fharsaingeachd gum bì na h-Eileanan an Iar na coimhearsnachd dhà-chànanach far a bheil an aon ùghdarras aig a' Ghàidhlig agus a' Bheurla mar mheadhanan conaltraidh.

Thuirt Neach-gairm na Comhairle, Ailig A Dòmhnallach: Tha am Poileasaidh a bualadh air na prìomh nìthean a tha nochdadh ann am Bile na Gàidhlig mar a chaidh atharrachadh leis an Riaghaltas agus tha sinn an dùil gum bì am Poileasaidh a' fìghe a-steach dhan Phoileasaidh Nàiseanta don chànan. Tha mi gu sònraichte toilichte gu bheil foghlam meadhan Gàidhlig a' faighinn barrachd inbhe anns a' Bhile ùr agus gu bheil cumhachdan air am buileachadh air Bòrd na Gàidhlig a cheadaicheas dhaibh an t-slighe air adhart a dhearbhadh nas cìnntiche. Tha Comhairle nan Eilean Siar a' faicinn foghlam meadhan Gàidhlig mar aon de na prìomh nithean a chuireas spionnadh ann an ath-bheòthachadh a' chànain agus bithidh sinn an dòchas na tha air aithris anns a' phoileasaidh a chuir an gnìomh thairis air na bliadhnachan a tha romhainn. Tha e ann an rùn na Comhairle obrachadh gu dlùth le Bòrd na Gàidhlig ann a bhith a' coilionadh na targaidean a thèid a chuir romhainn agus tha sinn mar tha air a sinn a dhèanamh foillaiseach tro ar compàirt ann an Plana Cànan nan Eilean Siar.

Chaidh cuideachd ainmeachadh gu bheil Plana Cànan G'aidhlig nan Eilean Siar air ionmhas fhaighinn fa chomhair na h-ath ìre de leasachadh, a bhios a' coimhead ri planaichean gnìomh ionadail a dhealbh, a bhios a' fighe a-steach do Phlana Nàiseanta don Ghàidhlig.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar today launched its revised Gaelic policy at a meeting of the Gaelic Language and Culture Forum. The policy sets out the Comhairle's objectives and aspirations for the use and development of the language.

The overall aim of the policy is that the Western Isles should be a bilingual community in which Gaelic and English have equal validity as the languages of communication.

Convener Alex MacDonald said: 'The policy targets some of the key issues which appear in the Gaelic Language Bill as amended by the Scottish Executive, and we anticipate it will dovetail into the National Policy for Gaelic. I am particularly pleased that Gaelic Medium Education has gained a higher profile in the amended Bill and that Bòrd na Gàidhlig have been awarded more powers which will help them in their efforts to give Gaelic a higher national profile.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar view Gaelic Medium Education as central to any regeneration of the language and we hope that the aims set out in the policy will be fulfilled. It is the Comhairle's aim to work closely with Bòrd na Gàidhlig in carrying out our agreed objectives and our participation in the Western Isles Gaelic Language Plan highlights this'.

It was also announced that the Western Isles Gaelic Language Plan has secured funding to move to the next stage of development including the drafting of local action plans which will eventually feed into the National Plan for Gaelic.

Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk