Scottish Languages Bill passed

Plans to boost and encourage the use of Gaelic and Scots have been passed by the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Languages Bill will enable parents to ask for a Gaelic school to be established in their area. Local authorities would then be required to assess if the request was practical and affordable. After taking advice, ministers could direct local authorities to proceed with the establishment a new Gaelic school if the authority's assessment considers it to be viable. 

Other measures include:

• introducing educational standards for Gaelic and Scots
• establishing Gaelic and Scots as official languages
• supporting the creation of areas of linguistic significance in Gaelic communities so that ministers can better target policies to support the language’s growth
• enabling parents in every part of Scotland to apply for Gaelic nursery and early years places for their children
• ensuring that more qualifications are available in Gaelic
• introducing targets on the number of people speaking and learning Gaelic

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic Kate Forbes said:

“This legislation will introduce powers to accelerate the growth of Gaelic and Scots. It will establish them as official languages, introduce new educational standards and support the creation of areas of linguistic significance in Gaelic communities.

“While there has been an encouraging increase in the number of Gaelic speakers across Scotland, we recognise that more support is needed in communities where the language is traditionally spoken.

“That’s why the Scottish Government is providing an additional £5.7 million to promote Scotland’s languages. We are also working to drive growth in Gaelic communities so that more people who speak the language continue to live in those areas.” 

Background.

Census statistics show that 130,161 people in Scotland had some Gaelic skills in 2022, an increase of 43,105 from 2011. The census shows that 2,444,659 people in Scotland had some Scots skills in 2022, an increase of 515,215 from 2011.

The latest version of the Scottish Languages Bill is available online.

Chaidh aontachadh ri Bile nan Cànan Albannach

A’ leasachadh Gàidhlig agus Albais

Tha Pàrlamaid na h-Alba air aontachadh ri planaichean gus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig agus na h-Albais a mheudachadh agus a bhrosnachadh.

Tro Bhile nan Cànan Albannach, faodaidh pàrantan iarraidh gun tèid sgoil Ghàidhlig a stèidheachadh anns na sgìrean aca. Dh’fheumadh ùghdarrasan ionadail measadh a dhèanamh an uair sin air so-dhèantachd agus reusantachd cosgaisean an iarrtais. Às dèidh dhaibh comhairle a ghabhail, dh’fhaodadh ministearan iarraidh air ùghdarrasan ionadail a dhol air adhart le stèidheachadh sgoil Ghàidhlig ùr, ma cho-dhùineas measadh an ùghdarrais gun gabh a dhèanamh. 

Am measg cheumannan eile:

• thèid bun-inbhean foghlaim a thoirt a-steach do Ghàidhlig agus do dh’Albais
• thèid Gàidhlig agus Albais a stèidheachadh mar chànain oifigeil
• thèid taic a chumail ri cruthachadh sgìrean cànain sònraichte ann an coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig, airson ’s gum faod ministearan poileasaidhean a thaghadh nas fheàrr leis an gabh an cànan a leasachadh
• faodaidh pàrantan ann an gach ceàrn na h-Alba tagradh a chur airson àitichean sgoil àraich agus tràth-ìre Gàidhlig fhaighinn dhan cuid chloinne
• nithear cinnteach gu bheil barrachd theisteanasan rim faotainn ann an Gàidhlig
• thèid targaidean a thoirt a-steach a thaobh àireamh nan daoine a tha a’ bruidhinn agus ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig

Thuirt an Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear agus Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson na h-Eaconamaidh agus na Gàidhlig, Ceit Fhoirbeis:

“Bheir an reachdas seo cumhachdan a-steach gus fàs na Gàidhlig agus na h-Albais a luathachadh. Bidh e gan stèidheachadh mar chànain oifigeil, a’ toirt a-steach bun-inbhean foghlaim ùra agus a’ cumail taic ri cruthachadh sgìrean cànain sònraichte ann an coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig.

“Ged a thathar air àrdachadh brosnachail fhaicinn ann an àireamh luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig air feadh Alba, tha sinn mothachail gu bheil barrachd taic a dhìth ann an coimhearsnachdan dham buin an cànan gu traidiseanta.

“Sin an t-adhbhar a tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ toirt seachad £5.7 millean a bharrachd gus cànain na h-Alba a bhrosnachadh. Tha sinn cuideachd ag obair gus leasachaidhean a bhrosnachadh ann an coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig, airson ’s gum bi barrachd dhaoine aig a bheil an cànan fhathast a’ fuireach anns na sgìrean sin.”

Cùl-fhiosrachadh

Tha àireamhan a’ chunntais-shluaigh a’ sealltainn gun robh beagan sgilean Gàidhlig aig 130,161 neach ann an Alba ann an 2022, àrdachadh de 43,105 neach bho 2011. Tha an cunntas-sluaigh a’ sealltainn gun robh beagan sgilean Albais aig 2,444,659 neach ann an Alba ann an 2022, àrdachadh de 515,215 neach bho 2011.

Tha an dreachd as ùire de Bhile nan Cànan Albannach ri fhaotainn air loidhne.

Scottish Languages Bill passed

Forderin Gaelic and Scots

Plans tae forder and uphaud the uise o Gaelic and Scots hae been passed by the Scots Pairliament.

The Scottish Languages Bill will allou parents tae speir for a Gaelic schuil tae be set up whaur they bide. It wad then be necessar for local authorities tae luik intae gin the speirin wis practical and affordable. Efter takkin advice, ministers micht caw upon local authorities tae gang forrit wi the settin up o a new Gaelic schuil if the authority's ettles shaw it tae be daeable.

Ither meisures include:

• bringin in educational staunards for Gaelic and Scots
• settin forrit Gaelic and Scots as official leids
• uphaudin the settin oot o areas o muckle linguistic mense in Gaelic communities sae that ministers can better ettle at policies tae uphaud the growin o the leid
• allouin parents in ilka pairt o Scotland tae speir efter Gaelic nursery and early years places for their bairns
• makkin siccar that mair qualifications can be taen in Gaelic
• settin forrit targets on the nummer o fowk spikkin and lairnin Gaelic

Depute First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic Kate Forbes said:

“This legislation will set oot pouers tae forder forrit wi the growth o Gaelic and Scots. It will set them oot as official leids, bring in new educational staunards and uphaud the settin oot o areas o muckle linguistic mense in Gaelic communities.

“For aw that there has been a hertenin increase in the nummer o Gaelic spikkers aw ower Scotland, we ken that mair uphaudin is necessar in communities whaur the leid is traditionally spikken.

“Thon’s whit wey the Scots Government is pittin forrit an extra £5.7 million tae uphaud Scotland’s leids. We’re wirkin forby tae spur growth in Gaelic communities sae as mair fowk that spik the leid will haud forrit wi bidin in thon pairts.” 

Backgrund.

Census statistics report that 130,161 fowk in Scotland had some Gaelic skills in 2022, an increase o 43,105 fowk syne 2011. The census reports that 2,444,659 fowk in Scotland had some Scots skills in 2022, an increase o 515,215 syne 2011.

The latest version o the Scottish Languages Bill is set furth online.