Over £1M boost for Gaelic and green projects in the Highlands and Islands

Kate Forbes, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch, said two projects on Islay would receive funding, including renewable energy developments in seven community buildings, as well as a tree nursery and community orchard with wood fuel supply infrastructure.

Two more on Raasay would also benefit, transforming three vacant properties into affordable rental homes with zero direct emission heating systems, and restoring habitats through the removal of invasive species.

Money will also install roof-mounted solar panels on homes in Millport on Great Cumbrae, and decarbonise the Cobhair Bharraigh community hub on the Isle of Barra.

At the same time, Ms Forbes, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, also announced steps to support Gaelic entrepreneurs and assess the benefits of the language to Scotland’s visitor economy.

She said a recent report on Economic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic "makes clear that the language is both an asset to the Scottish economy and that our economic policy is vital to the survival of traditional Gaelic communities.

“We will ensure that more Gaelic entrepreneurs are able to benefit from flagship support programmes such as Techscalers, that parents are able to access Gaelic medium education for their children, and that we understand the role Gaelic plays in attracting domestic and international tourists."

The first dedicated Gaelic cultural centre in the Highlands also got a significant funding boost from the Scottish Government.

Cultarlann Inbhir Nis, based in what was the East Church building in Inverness, will receive £370,000 to develop a space for Gaelic gatherings, ceilidhs and exhibitions in the centre of the city.

Margaret Mulholland, chairperson of Cultarlann, Inbhir Nis, said it has an "exciting future" in "promoting and building Gaelic culture in Inverness and the wider Highlands".

Cultarlann Inbhir Nis’s expansion will meet a growing demand for a dedicated space for Gaelic speakers in the ’Highland capital’. Census figures published earlier this year show a 12 per cent increase in the number of people with some Gaelic skills in Inverness compared to 2011.

Earlier this month, Ms Forbes took part in a seminar discussing the 2022 Gaelic Census results, hosted by Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture on Skye.

She said: “The 2022 census marked a turning point for Gaelic, with a rise in speakers for the first time in over 50 years. We are determined to maintain this growth while taking focused action for those communities where the census showed a decline in Gaelic use.

“The Scottish Languages Bill includes measures to strengthen Gaelic education in secondary school and create a system to enable all parents to apply for Gaelic early learning and childcare services.”