10th October 2008
Gaelic is a unique vehicle for passing Scottish understanding from one generation to the next, First Minister Alex Salmond said as he prepared to formally launch the Royal National Mod 2008 in Falkirk this evening.
The Mod is Scotland's premier Gaelic festival, celebrating Gaelic language and culture, which will today be strengthened with the announcement of more than �2.7 million funding for a range of Gaelic education measures.
The First Minister will use his address to announce:
* Support for a Gaelic Parents Advocacy Scheme to promote Gaelic education and provide support for parents
* �2.6 million to assist local authorities with the renovation and construction of dedicated Gaelic schools in the next two financial years
* Extended funding for the Gaelic Teacher Recruitment Officer based at Bord na Gaidhlig
* �70,000 to support a Youth Scheme that will create employment opportunities for young Gaelic-speakers.
Looking forward to the official launch the First Minister said: "The Gaelic language is a vital way of seeing and understanding Scotland. It contains the symbols and metaphors, stories and landscapes, that help define Scotland's unique culture and history. As an essential part of our life, lore and language - Gaelic provides a valuable vehicle for passing Scottish understanding from one generation to the next.
"That is why the Scottish Government is committed to promoting Gaelic education, and why I'm delighted to announce more than �2.7 million of funding to support the development of this strand of our cultural matrix. This money will help young learners by supporting parents, schools, teaching and youth training.
"This year's Mod provides a vibrant example of the enjoyment that can be found in Gaelic learning, with people of all ages competing across a range of disciplines including Gaelic Music and Song, Highland Dancing, Instrumental, Drama, Sport and Literature. Tonight's launch gives a taste of the talent on show.
"For talented Gaelic-speakers this is an exciting time, with a newly launched Gaelic language channel BBC Alba, the F�s Centre established at Sabhal M�r Ostaig to attract and support cultural enterprises, and a Gaelic Language Plan being developed. There should be no limit to the ambitions of modern Gaels.
"With Scotland's Year of Homecoming fast approaching, I hope we can harness some of our Gaelic ambition to encourage even more people to travel to join us in Oban for our Homecoming Mod in 2009. As an opportunity for Gaels and non-Gaels to renew old friendships as well as forging new ones - the Mod is the perfect way to reconnect with Scotland, in any language."