Gaelic Language Plan Progress Report December 2023 - December 2024
Argyll and Bute Council · 28 August 2025
Back to Community Services Committee — 28 August 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE CUSTOMER SUPPORT SERVICES 28 AUGUST 2025 GAELIC LANGUAGE PLAN PROGRESS REPORT DECEMBER 2023 – DECEMBER 2024 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This report updates members on progress that the Council is making on the delivery of our statutory Gaelic Language Plan. It presents data as required by Bòrd na Gàidhlig for their annual return, with both narrative and numerical information. The monitoring information covers all services involved in delivering Gaelic Language Plan actions.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE CUSTOMER SUPPORT SERVICES 28 AUGUST 2025 GAELIC LANGUAGE PLAN PROGRESS REPORT DECEMBER 2023 – DECEMBER 2024 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This report updates members on progress that the Council is making on the delivery of our statutory Gaelic Language Plan. It presents data as required by Bòrd na Gàidhlig for their annual return, with both narrative and numerical information. The monitoring information covers all services involved in delivering Gaelic Language Plan actions. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Committee are asked to consider the good progress that is being made in relation to the Council’s Gaelic Language Plan. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The Council has a statutory duty under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 to develop and deliver a Gaelic Language Plan. The Council’s current plan runs from 2022-2026. 4.2 The Plan aligns with the National Gaelic Language Plan and has been subject to approval by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the principal public body in Scotland responsible for promoting Gaelic development and who also advise Scottish Ministers. 4.3 The Council delivers the plan using both internal resources and also grant funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, which is made specifically available to support Gaelic Language Plan delivery and development. Officers successfully applied for a 3-year grant of £117,300 to support plan delivery. This includes match funding for the Gaelic Development Worker, the 2 yearly Gaelic Gathering, Online Gaelic learning for teachers and supports the Furan Administrator. 4.4 A number of Council services are involved in delivering actions relating to the Gaelic Language Plan including Education, Development and Economic
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Growth, Community Planning and Development and Communications as well as Roads and Infrastructure Services and Property Services. 4.5 The progress report attached provides detail on progress against the plan as required by Bòrd na Gàidhlig. It gives details on the wide range of activities that the Council is involved in to support the Gaelic Language in Argyll and Bute. The Council’s role spans both direct delivery and the facilitation, support and enabling of community groups and members who have an interest in Gaelic. 4.6 The Council manages an active Gaelic Forum Facebook group that continues to attract members and is open to all. Members who are interested can find the group on Facebook. 4.7 A cross service officer group meets with the Policy Lead on a regular basis to share updates and monitor progress on the actions in the plan. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 The Council is making good progress in delivering its statutory Gaelic Language Plan. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy: relates to current policy and our Gaelic Language Plan 6.2 Financial: none directly from this report 6.3 Legal: annual progress reporting ensures compliance with the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 6.4 HR: The grant provides match funding for 2 posts 6.5 Customer Service: we provide customer service response in Gaelic as part of the plan 6.6 Risk: annual reporting mitigates the risk of failing to comply with statutory duty 6.7 Climate Change: none directly from this report 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty: No negative impacts identified from the Plan Impact Assessment 6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics: no negative impacts identified from the Plan Impact Assessment 6.10 Consumer Duty: None
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6.11 Island Communities: no negative impacts from the Plan Impact Assessment 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing: none directly from this report. Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services Policy Lead for Gaelic: Audrey Forrest June 2025 For further information contact: Jane Fowler, Head of Customer Support Services, jane.fowler@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Argyll and Bute Council Gaelic Language Progress Report December 2023 - December 2024