Edinburgh's Gaelic Plan
As arguably the most important element of the nation's plan to ensure the future of Gaelic language and culture, a number of public bodies have received notice that they must produce their own Gaelic Plans. Bòrd na Gàidhlig was empowered and indeed required to issue such notices by the Gaelic Act which became law in 2005.
The first group of public bodies required to produce plans were the Councils of na h-Eileanan Siar, Highland, and Argyll and Bute, together with the Parliament, the Scottish Government, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Edinburgh
The City of Edinburgh Council was one of the second
wave of seven public bodies to receive notice in 2008 to produce a
plan by summer 2009.
The fact that Edinburgh has been required to produce a plan is a reflection of today's importance of the Capital city to the national aim to secure the future of Gaelic. Edinburgh has one of the largest concentrations of Gaelic speakers within a relatively small area, and an increasingly visible and active Gaelic community. In common with other urban locations in the central belt Edinburgh's Gaelic education sector is experiencing sustained and significant growth.
The second and final public consultation on the Council's draft plan is due to take place before the summer of 2009. The implementation of the plan will run over a five year period 2009/10 to 2013/14. The final stages of the development of and consultation on the plan will take place as follows.
Gaelic Education Feasibility Study
The Council commisioned a feasibility study
into the future of Gaelic education in Edinburgh, and received its
findings earlier in the year. A report will be published in due
course, and in the meantime, the results will inform the
recommendations of the Gaelic Plan.
The main drivers for this study (apart from the requirement to include education in the Gaelic language plan) were the rapidly increasing demand for places at the Gaelic-medium unit within Tollcross primary school and nursery, a developing national strategy on Gaelic education, and firmly expressed views of parents and the Gaelic community
Final Gaelic Plan Consultation
Once the final draft of the Council's Gaelic plan is complete, a
period of consultation of at least six weeks will take place
commencing before the main summer break. The Council will seek as many
responses as possible in order to produce a final plan that reflects
community aspirations. The draft plan and details of the consultation
process will be posted on the
Council's web-site as well as on
Gaelic-Edinburgh.net.
Both the Council and the Community will
hold events to raise awareness of the plan, and explain its content
during the consultation period. Details of these will aslo be posted
here.
Further information about Gaelic language plans can be found on Bòrd na Gàidhlig's web-site.