Anger after petition labels Gaelic funding in Scotland a 'frivolous, vanity project'

Douglas Capon wants the money spent on Gaelic initiatives across the mainland, including money spent on new road signs and education, to be scrapped and spent elsewhere.

The Inverclyde man labelled the spending plans a “frivolous, vanity project”.

He wrote in his Scottish Parliament petition: “In my view there is 1. No demand in the central belt, 2. Funds are limited and should be spent wisely [and] 3. There is no evidence of Gaelic being the 'national' language (except in Ireland).

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“We do not need scarce money spent on dual language road & rail signs, document and website translations, Local Authority employee language education. Have we suddenly become rich with money to burn? I consider that there is no economic benefit in what is a frivolous, vanity project.”

But Gaelic groups have shot down the man’s claims, pointing out that Gaelic funding has been cut in recent years while those wanting to learn the language has increased.

A spokesperson for Bord na Gaidhlig, the public body responsible for promoting Gaelic, said: “Gaelic is a language which is used across Scotland, with the number of people keen to learn the language increasing every year. 

"In Gaelic-medium education, demand is greater than the places available and numbers continue to grow.  In adult learning, interest in the language has never been higher, with more than 500,000 people actively learning Gaelic on the Duolingo app. 

"Gaelic also contributes to the Scottish economy in a wide range of sectors.”

Gaelic campaign group Misneachd agreed, telling The National: “Most rational people understand that the costs associated with including Gaelic on signage are negligible, as Gaelic would only be included when signs are being replaced, or vehicles being re-painted.

The petition took issue with money being spent on dual-language road signs

“By far the largest expenditure on Gaelic is on education, which is money that would need to be spent regardless of the language of instruction. Gaelic is not uniquely ‘subsidised’, we should remember that every penny not spent on Gaelic is spent ‘supporting’ English.

“Gaelic spending is in fact far too low, with year-on-year real terms cuts under the SNP. Back in 2002 experts, in their reports to the Scottish Parliament, recommended a budget of £10 million a year, before the Gaelic Language Act was introduced by the Labour Government in 2005, that would be approximately £17 million today."

Misneachd said the Gaelic development budget has received a little over £5 million a year since 2006/7, which they said amounted to a real terms cut of 30% since the introduction of the act.

They continued: “The budget for Gaelic development is insufficient, more investment is needed to implement progressive policies effectively, and ensure the language has a fighting chance.”

Caper’s local MP also dismissed his claims, saying that demand for Gaelic has actually increased in mainland Scotland, pointing to growing demand for Gaelic education in the central belt.

The 2001 census showed that 1.7% of Scots had Gaelic language skills, around 87,000 people.

However, after language learning app Duolingo offered a Gaelic course, more than 500,000 signed up in a single year.

Duolingo has delivered a boost for Gaelic as more than half a million take up the course in a year

Stewart McMillan said: “Learning languages is an important life skill as well as helpful for employment and culture, so I wholeheartedly welcome any increase in people learning languages.

“As someone who studied French and German at university as well as attended night school to learn some Swedish when I was studying in Sweden, I would encourage more citizens to take up the opportunity to broaden their horizons and opportunities by learning a language.”

McMillan said the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 places a responsibility on public authorities to support Gaelic through the development and implementation of a “Gaelic Language Plan”.

“That is why Inverclyde Council were consulting on their 2021-26 Gaelic Language Plan,” he told The National.

“Gaelic has a strong history in Inverclyde and contrary to Mr Capon’s claims, there is a demand for the language in the Central Belt, as evidenced by the increasing number of schools offering Gaelic Medium Education and the increasing number of parents sending their children to these schools.

“I am currently in dialogue with Inverclyde Council, Bord na Gaidhlig and local parents about plans to increase the provision of GME locally, which is why I do not agree with the petition’s ask.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Gaelic is a vital part of Scotland’s cultural identity and we are determined to improve access for people to learn and use the language.

READ MORE: Government urges Scots to speak Gaelic to save 'fragile' language

“We have a range of ambitious and extensive manifesto commitments for Gaelic to progress in the forthcoming Parliamentary session and are considering how these will be delivered.

"A number of authorities now have Gaelic Language Plans and our own Plan outlines proposals to support the development and use of Gaelic and ensure the sustainable future of the language.”

“Recent announcements by Bord na Gaidhlig include the appointment of Gaelic development offices, a fund to support Gaelic projects in community trusts and a network to support Gaelic development officers.

"With these measures we are seeing real progress and Gaelic bodies are working closely with communities to build on the valuable initiatives and projects put in place in recent years.”