SCOTLAND’S body responsible for promoting Gaelic development has said it continues to seek ways to keep a community scheme going amid major cuts.
This month, it was reported that the budget of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the principal body in Scotland responsible for promoting Gaelic development, would be cut by the Scottish Government leading to the Gaelic Development Officer scheme being put in danger.
The board has now confirmed the cut to top-up funding – which amounts to £354,000 - affects 27 organisations which are part of the scheme.
It’s believed the contracts of two language planning officers and an education manager will also not be renewed in the next financial year.
READ MORE: Anger as Scottish Gaelic language scheme scrapped amid funding cuts
Campaign group Misneachd Alba have written to Finance Secretary Shona Robison and Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth calling on the cuts to be reversed and Highland MSP Kate Fobes has said the scheme should be in the Board’s fixed budget, and not just top-up funding.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig have told BBC News that they are "still looking for ways to reopen the scheme and to continue the good work being done by the officers".
Furthermore, the organisation also confirmed that it had not carried out an Island Impact Assessment (ICIA) “because there has been no change in Policy or Strategy".
Campaigners have also highlighted the wider conversation of the amount of funding the body gets to promote the language.
A panel recommended to the Scottish Government that Bòrd na Gàidhlig receive £10 million a year when it was established in 2005. The organisation has only ever received £5m a year – with no increase in line with inflation.
READ MORE: Campaigners call on ministers to reverse cuts to Gaelic scheme
A Scottish Government spokesperson previously said: “Over the past three financial years, the Scottish Government was able to identify additional short-term funding for Bòrd na Gàidhlig to allow it to expand the development officer network promoting Gaelic in bodies and projects. Despite the extraordinary financial challenges facing the Scottish Government, Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s core baseline funding has been protected.
"However, the additional short-term funding will not be able to continue.
“The Scottish Government recognises the significant part Gaelic plays in Scotland’s culture and we want to support the language to thrive and grow, which is why we are bringing forward the Scottish Languages Bill to provide further protection for Scotland’s indigenous languages.”
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