With a commitment to continuous improvement, the Scottish Parliament is actively exploring new Gaelic resources for its website users and social media followers. As part of this initiative, the Parliament is seeking input on potential offerings.
This work follows the recent approval of The Scottish Parliament’s latest Gaelic Language Plan for 2023 to 2028 by Bòrd na Gàidhlig. The Plan lays out the commitments to supporting and promoting the use of Gaelic within the organisation.
Since the Gaelic Language Act was passed in 2005, public bodies like the Scottish Parliament need to prepare a Gaelic Language Plan every 5 years.
Earlier in 2023, the Scottish Parliament sought public input on its proposed Plan. The consultation received a range of responses, from fluent Gaelic speakers, those learning the language, and others with an interest in the language. Most of the responses expressed approval for the existing plans with some valuable new suggestions also contributed.
“Over 120 people helped us with shaping our approach to Gaelic over the next five years,” said Dr Alasdair MacCaluim, the Scottish Parliament’s Gaelic Development Officer.
“The Parliament extends its gratitude to all participants for their valuable contributions. We now want to understand what Gaelic resources our audience would find most useful going forward.”
“For example, do you have an interest in Gaelic podcasts? Would you be interested in subscribing to a monthly Gaelic newsletter? Are you currently following our Gaelic Twitter account (ParlAlba)? We’d love to hear from you.”
Ealasaid MacDonald, Ceannard (CEO) of Bòrd na Gàidhlig said: “It is important that public sector bodies like the Scottish Parliament are taking seriously the principle that Gaelic belongs to the whole of Scotland and are championing the promotion of a positive image of Gaelic, increasing the learning of Gaelic, and increasing the use of Gaelic.”
You can share your thoughts with the Scottish Parliament’s Gaelic team by emailing gaidhlig@parliament.scot
The Scottish Parliament has published its draft Gaelic Language Plan, which lays out its commitments to supporting and promoting the use of Gaelic within the organisation.
It is consulting on the plan and is looking for views from members of the public on the proposed priorities set out before a final plan is published later this year.
Announcing the draft Gaelic Language Plan, Presiding Officer The Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP said: “Gaelic is an integral part of Scotland’s heritage, national identity and cultural life.
“Since this Parliament passed the Gaelic Language Act of 2005, public bodies in Scotland have had a legal duty to promote the increased learning and use of Gaelic. This draft plan sets out how we propose to do that over the next five years.”
Members of the public can tell Parliament what they think about the Gaelic Language plan through an online consultation platform. Fluent speakers, and those learning the language, are especially invited to share their views on both the continuing, and new commitments, made in the plan.
The link to the consultation platform can be found here.
The Scottish Parliament’s Gaelic Development Officer, Dr Alasdair MacCaluim, said: “From visible signage around the building, to the provision of a Gaelic email and telephone service for the public to contact us on, we are proud of the prominence that Gaelic has at Holyrood. We’ll be expanding offerings under the new plan as interest in the language grows.
“We invite Gaelic speakers and learners to let us know what they think of our current provisions, and some of the new commitments we’ll be undertaking over the next five years. The feedback we receive will help us to improve the plan and provide an even better service for everyone.”
Tha Pàrlamaid na h-Alba air am Plana Gàidhlig as ùire fhoillseachadh agus tha i a’ sireadh ur cuid bheachdan
Tha Pàrlamaid na h-Alba air an dreachd den Phlana Ghàidhlig aice fhoillseachadh an-diugh, far a bheil i a’ nochdadh a cuid gheallaidhean gus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig an taobh a-staigh na buidhne a chuideachadh is a chur air adhart.
Tha i a’ co-chomhairleachadh air a’ phlana agus i ag iarraidh bheachdan bho dhaoine mu na prìomhachasan a thathar a’ moladh na bhroinn mus tèid am plana deireannach fhoillseachadh nas fhaide air adhart am-bliadhna.
Agus i ag ainmeachadh a’ Phlana Ghàidhlig, thuirt an t-Oifigear Riaghlaidh, am Fìor Urr. Alison Johnstone BPA: “Tha Gàidhlig na mhìr deatamach de dhìleab, de dh`ìomhaigh nàiseanta agus de bheatha chultarail na h-Alba.
“Bho ghabh a’ Phàrlamaid seo ri Achd Ghàidhlig 2005, tha dleastanas laghail air a bhith air buidhnean poblach barrachd ionnsachaidh is cleachdaidh Ghàidhlig a chur air adhart. Tha an dreachd seo den phlana a’ nochdadh mar a tha e san amharc againn sin a dhèanamh thairis air an ath chòig bliadhna.”
Faodaidh daoine innse dhan Phàrlamaid mu na tha iad a’ smaoineachadh mun Phlana Ghàidhlig tron làrach cho-chomhairleachaidh air-loidhne. Tha cuireadh gu sònraichte gu daoine le Gàidhlig bho thùs agus don fheadhainn a tha ag ionnsachadh a’ chànain na beachdan aca mun dà chuid na geallaidhean leantainneach agus an fheadhainn ùra a thathar a’ dèanamh sa phlana a nochdadh. Gheibhear an ceangal ris an làraich-chomhairleachaidh an seo.
Thuirt Oifigear Leasachaidh Gàidhlig Pàrlamaid na h-Alba, an Dr. Alasdair MacCaluim:
“Bho shoidhnichean timcheall an togalaich, gu solar post-d agus seirbheis fòn Gàidhlig dhan mhòr-shluagh gus fios a chur thugainn, tha sinn moiteil às cho follaiseach ’s a tha a’ Ghàidhlig aig Taigh an Ròid. Bidh sinn a’ leudachadh na tha sinn a’ tabhann fon phlana ùr agus ùidh sa chànan a’ fàs.”
“Tha sinn a’ toirt cuireadh do luchd-labhairt agus luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig innse dhuinn dè am beachd a th’ aca air na tha sinn a’ dèanamh an-dràsta, agus air na gealltanasan ùra a bhios sinn a’ cur an gnìomh thairis air an ath chòig bliadhna. Cuidichidh na beachdan a gheibh sinn gus piseach a thoirt air a’ phlana agus gus seirbheis nas fheàrr a thoirt dhan a h-uile duine.”
Cùl-fhiosrachadh
Chaidh Achd Ghàidhlig (Alba) 2005 aontachadh le Pàrlamaid na h-Alba gus inbhe na Gàidhlig a dhaingneachadh mar chànan oifigeil ann an Alba aig a bheil spèis cho-ionann ris a’ Bheurla.
Is e fear de na mìrean bunaiteach ann an Achd 2005 gu bheil ullachadh ann a tha a’ toirt comas do Bhòrd na Gàidhlig iarraidh air ùghdarras poblach Plana Gàidhlig a dheasachadh. Chaidh an t-ullachadh seo a dhealbhadh gus a dhearbhadh gum bi àite aig an roinn phoblaich ann an Alba ann a bhith a’ cruthachadh seasmhachd airson na Gàidhlig le bhith a’ togail inbhe is ìomhaigh a’ chànain agus a’ cruthachadh chothroman practaigeach a bhith ga cleachdadh.
Committing to support and grow the use of Gaelic are two aims of the City of Edinburgh Council’s new Gaelic Language Plan which was approved on Tuesday.
Plana Gàidhlig 2018-22 / Gaelic Language Plan 2018-22
A city that develops and supports more fluent and confident gaelic speakers and promotes thriving gaelic communities and cultures is the vision behind the ‘Draft Gaelic Language Plan’ published by the City of Edinburgh Council yesterday.Continue reading Council consults on Gaelic Language Plan