HIE Board Backs Ambitious New Age For Gaelic

28th August 2007

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is aiming to put in place an ambitious Gaelic plan which it hopes will embed Gaelic as a defining feature of the Highlands and Hebrides and as a core element of the region's development over the years to come.

The commitment was revealed in a presentation to the HIE board at its regular board meeting which was held in Orkney this week. The network's Gaelic policy manager Alasdair MacLeòid delivered a draft of the organisation's Gaelic language plan, which is currently the subject of public consultation.

HIE, which plans to invest more than £2m to support Gaelic this year, is one of six public sector organisations required by the Scottish Executive to draft and implement a plan towards securing a sustainable future for the language.

The draft Gaelic plan for HIE focuses partly on current Gaelic-speaking communities and islands, but also looks to promote the Gaelic identity of the Highlands and Hebrides as a whole and demonstrate equal respect to both Gaelic and English - a key element of the recent legislation protecting the language and the rights of its speakers.

An important element of the plan is a commitment to capitalise on the significant opportunities arising from the language's growth in taking forward the development of the HIE area - including projects such as the new Fàs centre for the cultural and creative industries being constructed at the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig campus in Skye.

Members of the public can read the plan and take part in consultation online at www.hie.co.uk/gaelic-plan until Wednesday, September 5. The final version will be sent for consideration by Bord na Gàidhlig on October

The HIE board also gave final approval for £402,500 assistance to Raasay Outdoor Centre on Skye for equipment and furnishings. The centre is based in Raasay House which a local community Trust is acquiring from HIE.

While on Orkney, members of the HIE board visited a number of companies and initiatives such as Scotrenewables, Aquatera, the European Marine Energy Centre, and Orkney College. Board members also met those serving on the Orkney's Young People's Panel which approves grant applications to the Big Lottery's Young People's Fund.


Bòrd HIE a' bacadh linn ùr don Ghàidhlig

Tha Iomairt na Gaidhealtachd 's nan Eilean (HIE) a' cur ri chèile plana Gàidhlig mòr-inntinneach a tha an dòchas stèidheachadh Gàidhlig mar chomharradh cudromach den Ghaidhealtachd 's nan Eilean agus mar pàirt den leasachadh nan roinn anns na bliadhnaichean a tha romhainn.

Nochd an dealas ann an taisbeanadh gu Bòrd HIE aig a' choinneamh reachdail a bha ann an Arcaibh t-an seachdain seo. Thug manaidsear poileasaidh Gàidhlig HIE Alasdair MacLeòid, seachad dreach den phlana Gàidhlig a' bhuidheann, a chaidh a-mach o chionn ghoirid gu co-chomhairleachaidh.

Tha plana aig HIE taic a thoirt don Ghàidhlig le còrr air £2m am bliadhna seo. 'S e HIE aon de sia bhuidhnean poblach aig a tha riatanas bhon Riaghaltas na h-Alba plana Gàidhlig deasachadh, dèanamh cinnteach gum bi suidheachadh na cànain tèarainte san àm ri teachd.

Tha dreach plana Gàidhlig HIE a' cur fòcas air coimhearsnachdan a bhios a' bruidhinn Gàidhlig, agus na h-eileanan, ach cuideachd a' coimhead ri cuir air adhart dearbh-aithne na Gàidhlig anns a' Ghaidhealtachd agus na h-Eileanan agus sealltainn an aon mheas sa tha air a' Bheurla - pàirt cudromach den reachdas airson a' chànan a chumail dìon còmhla ri còraichean luchd-bruidhinn na Gàidhlig.

'S e pàirt cudromach den phlana, dealas airson buannachd fhaighinn bho na cothroman a bhios a' tighinn an àrda bhon a bhith a' toirt air adhart leasachadh ann an roinn HIE - a' toirt a-steach pròiseactan mar Fàs, an ionad ùr airson gnìomhachdan cultarach agus cruthachail, a bhios stèidhte aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig anns an Eilean Sgitheanach.

Tha am plana ri fhaotainn air loinne aig www.hie.co.uk/gaelic-plan gu Diciadain 5 An Sultain. Thèid an dreach mu dheireadh gu Bòrd na Gàidhlig airson beachdachadh air a' chiad latha den Dàmhair.

Cuideachd, thug Bòrd HIE ceadachadh airson £402,500 cuideachadh do Ionad a-muigh Eilean Rarsaidh anns an Eilean Sgitheanach airson uidheam agus àirneis. Tha an ionad stèidhte ann an Taigh Rarsaidh - an taigh a tha oighreachd choimhearsnachd ionadail a' faighinn bho HIE.

Fhads a bha iad ann an Arcaibh, rinn ball a' bhùird tadhail air grunn chompanaidhean mar, Scotrenewables, Aquatera, European Marine Energy Centre, agus Colaisde Arcaibh. Choinnich iad cuideachd còmhla ri daoine a tha air an Young People's Panel ann an Arcaibh a bhios ag aontachadh iarratas airgead an lotaraidh