Members welcome progress on Highland Council Gaelic Language Plan.

Leugh sa Ghàidhlig

Members of The Highland Council’s Gaelic Committee have welcomed the progress on the implementation of the Council’s first Gaelic Language Plan 2007 – 2011 and have urged members of the public to have their say on the production of the second Highland Council Gaelic Language Plan for 2012 – 2016.

In May 2008, The Highland Council was the first organisation to gain Bòrd na Gàidhlig approval from its statutory Gaelic Language Plan. As a four year development plan under the Gaelic Language (Scotland ) Act 2005, it is scheduled to be renewed around May 2012.

Members of the Gaelic Committee agreed to submit the Council’s implementation progress report on the 2007 – 2011 plan to Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

Kenny Murray, Highland Council’s Gaelic Development Manager also informed members on the updates to the Council’s draft second Gaelic Language Plan for years 2012 – 2016 and its associated public consultations.

Eight public meetings were recently held in October and November, throughout the Highlands at Thurso, Portree, Ullapool, Inverness, Fort William, Dingwall, Aviemore and Golpsie.

Chairman of the Gaelic Committee, Councillor Hamish Fraser thanked Council members and members of the public who had attended the recent meetings and he also urged anyone who was unable to attend the meetings to make their views known by 5pm on Wednesday 4 January 2012 which is the closing date for the public consultation.

Comments can be made online at the Council’s website at http://www.highland.gov.uk/gaeliclanguageplan.htm or by e-mail to: gaelic@highland.gov.uk or by post to: Gaelic Development Manager, The Highland Council, Town House, Inverness IV1 IJJ.

The final draft of the second Gaelic Language Plan 2012 – 2016 will be submitted to the Council’s Gaelic Committee on 8 March 2012 and then the final plan to the meeting of The Highland Council on 5 April 2012 and it will then be submitted to Bòrd na Gàidhlig for final approval.