HIE public consultation on Gaelic language plan

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has launched a public consultation on the organisation's draft Gaelic language plan.

The public consultation runs until the beginning of September and the revised plan will be formally submitted to Bòrd na Gàidhlig later this year.

Following the passing of the Gaelic Language Act, HIE was invited as one of six public bodies required to prepare a statutory Gaelic Plan in 2007. As part of the consultation, HIE will gather opinion on the availability of services in Gaelic, bilingualism on signs and publications, and on wider issues such as the role of the language in the development of the Highlands and Islands.

HIE will also consult on the importance of Gaelic to the HIE area, towards helping realise a secure and sustainable future for the language across the Highlands and Islands. The consultation should also consider how the plan reflects the aspirations of the National Plan for Gaelic.

Gaelic plans for public bodies mean that Gaelic speakers can increasingly access public services in their own tongue. It is also expected that Gaelic will be encouraged when dealing with the public and that organisation's Gaelic services and resources will be expanded.

Alasdair MacLeòid, Gaelic policy manager at HIE said: "This is a very important time for Gaelic. Through the recent publication of the National Plan for Gaelic and the current consultations on Gaelic plans for HIE and for Highland Council, we are now seeing some of the impacts of the Gaelic Act on Scotland."

"HIE is very supportive of the Gaelic Act and of the National Plan for Gaelic, and we are looking to prepare and implement a Gaelic plan for the HIE network that will enable Gaelic to regrow as a spoken language in its heartlands and to grow awareness and indeed the opportunities arising from the growth of the language across the Highlands and Islands. Gaelic represents a substantial resource for Scotland and particularly the Highlands and Islands, and we see the development of Gaelic as a key element of the continued community and economic development of the region."

"We would very much appreciate comment and feedback from all interested parties on the draft Gaelic plan for HIE and we hope that the consultation will attract considerable interest."

The consultation document and online answer form are available at www.hie.co.uk/gaelic-plan

Co-chomhairle phoblach air plana Gàidhlig Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd 's nan Eilean.

Chaidh Plana Gàidhlig Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd 's nan Eilean (HIE) an-diugh a-mach gu co-chomhairle phoblach.

Mar thoradh air Achd na Gàidhlig, chaidh a dh'iarraidh air HIE mar tè dhe na sia buidhnean poblach aig an robh plan Gàidhlig reachdail a dheasachadh an 2007. Thèid an co-chomhairle phoblach seo air dreach Phlana HIE, a tha ri fhaicinn aig làrach lìn HIE, a chumail gu deireadh na mìos mas thèid aice am plana a chur a-steach gu foirmeil do Bhòrd na Gàidhlig an Dàmhair am bliadhna.

Mar phàirt dhen co-chomhairle, trusaidh HIE beachdan air mar a tha iad libhrigeadh seirbheisean tron a' Ghàidhlig, dà-chànanas air soidhnichean is foillseachan. Bidh HIE cuideachd a' lorg beachdan air àite na Gàidhlig an leasachadh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, agus air cudrom na Gàidhlig don sgìre, agus air mar as urrainnear a' Ghàidhlig a chur ann an suidheachadh dhà-rìreadh fallain, tèarainte is seasmhachd airson an àm agus an àl ri teachd.

Tha còir aig planaichean Gàidhlig ciallachadh dha na Gàidheil gum bith barrachd sheirbheisean rim faighinn tron a' Ghàidhlig. Thathas cuideachd an dùil gun tèid a' Ghàidhlig a bhrosnachadh mar cainnt àbhaisteach eadar a' phobaill agus luchd-obrach na buidhne, agus gun faigh seirbheisean agus goireasan Gàidhlig leasachadh.

Thuirt Alasdair MacLeòid, manaidsear phoileasaidh Gàidhlig aig HIE: "Is e àm cudromach dhà-rìreadh a tha seo dhan a' Ghàidhlig. An dèidh foillseachadh a' Phlana Nàiseanta agus na co-chomhairlichean a tha dol an-dràsda air Planaichean Gàidhlig Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd 's nan Eilean agus Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, tha sinn a-nis a faicinn buaidh is toradh Achd na Gàidhlig ann an Alba."

Lean Alasdair, "Tha HIE air leth taiceil do dh'Achd na Gàidhlig agus Plana Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig, agus tha sinn gu mòr an dùil plana Gàidhlig a chur an gnìomh a bheireas cothrom dhan a' Ghàidhlig fàs a-rithist mar chainnt am-measg coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig agus cothrom dhi fàs an aire dhaoine air feadh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean. Tha a' Ghàidhlig na stòras mòr, brìoghmhor de dh'Alba agus gu h-àraidh don Ghàidhealtachd, agus dh'fhaodadh a chànan cur ris leasachadh eaconomach is coimhearsnachd na sgìre againn gu mòr.

"Bhitheamaid thaingeil dhà-rìreadh beachd is comhairle fhaighinn bho neach air no buidhnean sam bith aig am bheil ùidh sa chùis, agus tha sinn an dòchas gun tèid mòran chnuasachadh a dhèanamh air ar Plana."

Tha am plana agus foirm-freagairt rim faicinn aig www.hie.co.uk/gaelic-plan

Mairidh an co-chomhairle fhoirmeil gu 5 Sultain.