Scotland's South Ayrshire Adopts Gaelic Language Plan

The Gaelic language continues to gain strength with coninuing implemenation of laws supporting Scots Gaelic. The South Ayrshire County Council have announced the submission of a three year “Draft Gaelic Language Plan” to the Bord na Gaidhlig. The Plan for South Ayrshire outlines how the Council will promote the use of Gaelic in compliance with the 2005 Gaelic Language Act. The Bord na Gaidhlig was established under the 2005 law.  The Language Act gives the Bord na Gaidhlig (Scottish Language Board) a dominant role in the promotion of Scots Gaelic, an advisory role to Scottish Government on Gaelic issues and in the planning and preparation of guidelines for Gaelic education.

 The Gaelic Language Act of 2005 was adopted by the Scottish Parliament on 21st April 2005 and declares:  “ An Act of the Scottish Parliament to establish a body having functions exercisable with a view to securing the status of the Gaelic language as an official language of Scotland commanding equal respect to the English language, including the functions of preparing a national Gaelic language plan, of requiring certain public authorities to prepare and publish Gaelic language plans in connection with the exercise of their functions and to maintain and implement such plans, and of issuing guidance in relation to Gaelic education.”

This follows the September 2013 announcemnt by the Glasgow City Council on the adoption of a "Four Year Gaelic Language Plan", as descibed in the Transceltic article linked below.  The South Ayrshire Council's plan will now be sent to the Bòrd na Gàidhlig for consideration against the National Plan for Gaelic. A copy of the draft plan can be accessed via the link below.

The main provisions of 2005 Language Act: (1)  the establishment of the Gaelic development body, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, on a statutory basis to oversee the development of the language; (2) a requirement that the Bòrd exercise its functions with the aim of securing the status of the Gaelic language as an official language of Scotland; (3) the introduction of a national Gaelic language plan to promote the use of the Gaelic language; (4) the preparation of Gaelic language plans by public authorities, where appropriate, to (5) encourage and facilitate the use of the language in public life; and (6) the introduction of a Gaelic education advisory role for Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/news/council-agrees-draft-gaelic-langua...

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2005/7/contents

www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/consultations/gaelicplan

http://www.transceltic.com/blog/glasgow-city-council-adopts-gaelic-langu...