Gaelic language and cultural development organisation, Bòrd na Gàidhlig has announced that Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will be one of the first public bodies invited to prepare a Gaelic language plan in compliance with the recently passed Gaelic Language Act.

HIE chief executive, Sandy Cumming, said: "We are delighted by this news. It indicates the particularly important role the HIE network will play in the continued regeneration of the language.

"Gaelic is a tremendously valuable asset to Scotland and helps shape the distinctive culture we enjoy in the Highlands and Islands. Whilst we recognise the fragile position of the language, we are committed to implementing a bold and innovative language plan for the HIE network that will make a genuine contribution to the future of Gaelic and ensure that it continues to flourish and grow as a spoken community language and as a driver for the further development of our region."

HIE recently appointed Alasdair MacLeòid as Gaelic policy manager with responsibility for developing and implementing a Gaelic plan for the Network.

Alasdair said: "I am very much looking forward to working alongside staff in Bòrd na Gàidhlig and with colleagues at HIE and throughout the local enterprise companies in implementing a Gaelic plan which will complement the national plan for Gaelic and contribute to achieving its aims.

"The HIE network and HIDB before it have a history of support for Gaelic and continue to invest in taking forward development of the culture and language through bodies such as Comunn na Gàidhlig, Pròiseact nan Ealan and Fèisean nan Gàidheal. It is important now that we raise the profile of Gaelic in the HIE network and create an operational culture which will help ensure a secure and sustainable future for Gaelic in the region.

Alasdair spoke personally: "Having grown up in Lewis and having spent much of my time on the west-side of the island amongst family who speak Gaelic as their first language and with some who spoke Gaelic as their only language, it is a very sad and very sobering thought to imagine a time when Gaelic; the language of my family and my forebears is no longer spoken in our area. I am determined to play a part in ensuring our language thrives as a language of communities and as a part of the day to day lives of people living in the Highlands and Islands."

Iomairt na Gaidhealtachd a' cur fàilte air Planaichean Gàidhlig Bòrd na Gàidhlig

Madainn an-diugh, dh'ainmich Bòrd na Gàidhlig Iomairt na Gaidhealtachd mar aon de na ciad bhuidhnean poblach air a bhios uallach planaichean Gàidhlig ullachadh gus cumail ri Achd na Gàidhlig, a chaidh aontachadh bho chionn goirid.

Chuir Sandy Cumming, Àrd-Oifigear Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd, fàilte air an naidheachd, is e ag radh:  "Tha sinn toilichte dha-rìreabh an naidheachd seo a chluinntinn, agus i ag innse mòran mu'n àite cudthromach a bhios aig Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ann a bhith cumail taic ri ath-nuadhachadh leantainneach a' chànain."

"Tha a' Ghàidhlig na buannachd air leth airson na h-Alba is tha i na pairt shònraichte dhen an dualchas luachmhor a th'againn air a' Ghàidhealtachd is na h-Eileanan. Ged a tha sinn ag aithneachadh cho brisg agus a tha staid a' chànain, tha sinn a' toirt gealltanais gun tèid plana cànain a tha dàna is ùr-ghnàthaichte a chur air dòigh airson Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd, a chuireas ris a' Ghàidhlig anns an àm ri tighinn agus a dhearbhas gun soirbhich leatha is gun fàs i mar chànan sa choimhearsnachd agus mar sheòl a bheireas leasachadh air an sgìre againn."

Bho chionn ghoirid, chaidh Alasdair MacLeòid fhastadh le Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd mar mhanaidsear poileasaidh na Gàidhlig agus uallach aige airson Plana Gàidhlig a leasachadh is a chur an gnìomh.

Thuirt Alasdair: "Tha mi a' coimhead air adhart ri bhith ag obair còmhla ri Bòrd na Gàidhlig, agus comhla ri co-oibrichean an Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd agus anns na companaidhean iomairt ionadail, gus Plana Gàidhlig a chur an gnìomh; Plana Gàidhlig a chuireas ri Plana Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig gus amasan a' Phlana a thoirt gu buil.

"Tha Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd, agus Bòrd Leasachaidh na Gàidhealtachd roimhe, air a bhith taiceil a thaobh na Gàidhlig agus tha sinn fhathast a' cumail taic ri leasachadh a' chànain agus a' chultar tro bhuidhnean mar Chomunn na Gàidhlig, Phròiseact nan Ealan agus Fhèisean nan Gàidheal. Feumaidh sinn a-nis barrachd leasachadh a dheanamh air àite na Gàidhlig taobh a-staigh Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd agus doigh obrachaidh ùr a chruthachadh gus aite tèarainte is seasmhach a ghleidheadh airson an Gàidhlig..

A' bruidhinn gu pearsanta, thuirt Alasdair: "Is e Leòdhasach a th'annamsa. Is ged a chaidh mo rugadh is mo thogail an Baile Steòrnabhaigh, chur mi seachad mòran ùine  an Arnol air An Taobh Siar còmhla ri teaghlach aig a bheil a' Ghàidhlig mar chiad chànan aca, is feadhainn eile dhen teaghlach aig nach robh mòran a bharrachd ach facal no dhà de Bheurla. 'S e smaoin dhuilich dha-rìreabh a th' ann a bhi smaoinich air an sgire againn gun a' Ghàidhlig, cànan mo theaghlaich is cànan mo shinnsearan, air bilean an t-sluaigh. Tha mi làn dùil mo dhìcheall a dhèanamh gus ar cànan a chumail beò mar chànan choimhearsnachdan agus mar phàirt de bheatha làthaireil muinntir na Gaidhealtachd is nan Eilean."