Hansard

It is with a mixture of pride, trepidation and humility that I open this dialogue today. This is a unique day in the annals of Gaelic, as for the first time for 600 years we speak it formally in the Scottish Parliament. It is particularly appropriate that this should happen now, as next year is designated minority language year by the European Commission.

I say dialogue rather than debate because I believe that every party in the Scottish Parliament is empathetic with and supportive of Gaelic and the heritage and culture intertwined with the language and those who speak it. It would be sad if political walls were to come between Gaelic and its success and development.

Why, then, does Gaelic have a place among the national priorities of the Scottish Parliament? Gaelic is a precious jewel in the heart and soul of Scotland. It is not constrained within strict boundaries or herded into tight corners. Gaelic is national, European and international. It is fundamental to Scotland; it is not on the periphery or on the fringes. It must be normalised and its rights must be secured.

There are many precious components in the heritage of Scotland, but none is as ancient, as profound and as worthy as the Gaelic legacy. However, it is under a threat that could be ominous if we are not careful. Gaelic's survival will be to our universal advantage.

As I mentioned last June, the Executive is having discussions with Comunn na Gàidhlig and other groups on secure status for Gaelic, but secure status alone will not put Gaelic on a footing that leads to advancement. Strategies must be devised and appropriate tactics put into effect to bring Gaelic forward.

Before I come to the particular topic under discussion today—Gaelic-medium education—I would like to say a few words about Gaelic in general. Although the number of people who speak the language regularly has declined, much progress has been made over the past 20 years. If efforts had not been made to halt the erosion, Gaelic would be in serious jeopardy today. We are indebted to all the organisations and individuals who worked so fervently and so diligently to achieve that success. Gaelic broadcasting, the arts and education are more advanced than ever before, but much development remains to be done, and this Parliament has, and will have, a large and important role to play.

The Executive supports Gaelic in a number of ways. For example, we contribute £8.5 million per year to Gaelic broadcasting. That has not only given a stimulus and status to the language and regenerated it; it has had a large and positive effect on education and job creation throughout Scotland. A task force is examining the desirability and feasibility of a comprehensive Gaelic service on a digital television channel. We expect to have its report in a few months. I believe that the chairperson of that group is meeting Chris Smith this afternoon.

We also established a task force to examine existing arrangements and structures for public funding of Gaelic and to recommend how those can be improved so that the optimum value can be derived from the Gaelic development initiatives that are financially supported by the Government. The task force has received interesting observations and advice from Barra to Barcelona and from Harris to Honolulu. As I have said already, the boundaries of Gaelic are extensive.

Among the advances of the past few years has been the development of a new community within the Gaelic orbit—those who have learned the language and the hundreds who are learning it each year. Presiding Officer, I know that you are among that number. Some of those people are in the chamber today, and we are grateful to them for their dedication and support. I look forward to listening to them debate later. Between the learners and those who acquired the language at their mother's knee, there is vigour and purpose within the Gaelic community at large, and it is appropriate that we give them as much hope and encouragement as possible.

Gaelic and Scots should be mutually supportive. One example of an enterprise assisted by the Executive is the well of heritage. It is a project to digitise the treasure trove of tradition, history and music in the archives of the School of Scottish Studies, BBC Scotland and the Canna collection, to make it universally accessible through facilities such as the internet, with Gaelic and Scots side by side. The well of heritage is not looking backwards. It is fusing the old world to the new. Even as we speak, a website is being launched on the isle of Tiree to make available worldwide some of the wealth of material in the well of heritage. Advanced communications technology is bringing Scottish history and culture closer to us, and making it more meaningful to us.

I am aware that there are some in this chamber who have ancestral connections with Ireland. It is incumbent upon us to maintain and reinforce the bonds between the Scottish and Irish Gaels. That is the purpose of the Columba initiative that Brian Wilson launched two years ago. Many benefits have come from it in a short time, and it is going from strength to strength as exchanges between communities of interest on both sides of the Sea of Moyle are undertaken. In three weeks' time, the Gaelic youth parliament will meet in Derry. Young people from Scotland and Ireland will debate issues of common interest to the Celtic countries.

I see that we have a friend in the VIP gallery. Presiding Officer, with your permission, on behalf of the Parliament, I would like officially to welcome Dan Mulhall, the consul for Ireland. Dan Mulhall and I will be at the youth parliament, as will Eamon O'Cuiv.

Last week, a project was launched to establish a Gaelic centre in Glasgow. One of its objectives is to use the centre as a means of bringing together those who have a mutual interest in the Gaelic language and the traditions of Scotland and Ireland. That is further evidence that Gaelic is not confined to narrow corners of the country, but is truly national and international and becoming more and more conspicuous internationally. The Department of Trade and Industry recently helped the Gaelic Books Council to exhibit Gaelic books in Canada. I heard this week that, as a result of that effort, the council has received proposals from Canadian book distributors.

The council has also been invited to join in a partnership to publish books of Gaelic poetry translated into French and Quebecois poetry translated into Gaelic. In addition, a request came from Canada to translate a new novel by the acclaimed Canadian author Alasdair MacLeod into Gaelic. It tells of the transatlantic Gaelic connection and is one of the most successful novels ever published in Canada. As I have said, Gaelic is national and international.

Having painted the broad-brush picture, I want now to consider the main topic of discussion. Gaelic-medium education is, in my opinion, the most important development in Gaelic—and perhaps in Scottish education as a whole—for a long time.

Eighteen years ago, a bright new sun shone on Gaelic education. As a result of parental demand, Gaelic playgroups were established under the aegis of the Gaelic Pre-school Council. There are now 33 playgroups throughout Scotland. In 1985, the first three primary Gaelic-medium units were established in Glasgow, Inverness and Lewis. Today, there are 59 units, and 13 secondary schools offer selected subjects through Gaelic. There are many children in the Gaelic units whose parents do not speak the language; some parents come from a non-Gaelic background.

At tertiary level, Gaelic-medium education may be obtained in a number of subjects. All courses at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig are through the medium of Gaelic, and some courses at Lewis Castle College are taught through the medium of Gaelic. Gaelic is taught at several colleges and universities throughout Scotland, and immersion courses for adults have been very effective. The first Gaelic immersion course was tested and proven at Clydebank College. I was delighted to be present at the graduation day at Clydebank College.

National guidelines for Gaelic-medium education, produced in 1993, highlighted the benefit of teaching children about their culture and language, as well as widening their understanding of other cultures and subjects. This assessment has now been manifestly proven.

The specific grants scheme for Gaelic education began in 1986. The initial funding was £250,000. In the coming financial year, specific grants will exceed £2.8 million—more than a tenfold increase since the scheme began. We in the Executive are trying to stimulate and motivate Gaelic education. It is up to local authorities to take advantage of that incentive and to augment it with planning and strategy that will make it effective.

In the four years up to 2001-02, another £300,000 has been allocated to a new scheme for Gaelic pre-school education. In the three years up to 2001-02, £200,000 has been set aside for courses to increase the number of Gaelic teachers in secondary schools, £80,000 has gone towards staffing costs in the National Gaelic Resource Centre and £25,000 has gone to develop Gaelic courses at secondary level. Last year, the Scottish Office provided Glasgow City Council with £250,000 for the first school in Scotland where education is delivered entirely through the medium of Gaelic. If Gaelic education is to make further progress, more such schools must be established. I understand that the Minister for Children and Education will officially open the Gaelic school in Glasgow. The Executive will work towards getting more of these schools established. I am delighted that Western Isles Council has six dedicated Gaelic schools.

Gaelic is now at every level of education: pre-school, primary school, secondary school, colleges, universities and as part of teacher training. In that broad spectrum, Gaelic-medium education is paramount—not only for the good of Gaelic, but for the good of education. If Gaelic is a national asset, so is an education that opens doors to a bilingual and multilingual society—a world that is wider and deeper than the compressed one observed through one language alone.

Gaelic-medium education is not being forced on anyone, but when parents seek it there should be an attempt to meet their requirements. The trail is not at all smooth. Teachers are scarce, teaching resources are scarce, money is scarce and, unfortunately, lack of courage is abundant.

Lack of awareness of the advantages of bilingual education is an impediment—there is a need for information that will turn that lack of awareness into understanding. One thing that I hope is not abundant is malice towards Gaelic, despite the odd columnist who is afraid that the Gaels are getting too uppity and thinks that they should stick to looking after the croft.

With the good will of members of all parties, the Executive will do its best to enable Gaelic-medium education to move forward. Local councils and authorities—and Gaelic agencies—must play their part in this development. We must work together.

I move,

That the Parliament welcomes the Scottish Executive's programme of action in support of the Gaelic language, in particular its support for Gaelic-medium education; recognises the cultural, economic and social contribution of Gaelic to Scotland; supports the Scottish Executive's participation in the Columba Initiative (Iomairt Chaluim Chille) to strengthen the links between the Gaelic-speaking communities of Scotland and of Ireland, and commends the work of local authorities, schools, colleges, universities and voluntary bodies in making available Gaelic-medium education at all levels from pre-school to tertiary and continuing education and in promoting the Gaelic arts.