Fòram na Gàidhlig

Letter: Gaelic value

Published Date: 24 December 2010
Much of the current infrastructure of Gaelic education and broadcasting owes its existence to parents and volunteers of the grass roots organisation, (Gaelic learning resource] TAIC.
Now the entire structure of Gaelic early learning services throughout Scotland is at risk of crumbling when development agency Bòrd na Gàidhlig withdraws 100 per cent of its funding from TAIC as of March 2011.

Despite protests from some of the world's senior authorities on language planning to education minister, Mike Russell (Letters, 8 October), the Bòrd met in Inverness last week to confirm its decision. It also rejected our request for some interim arrangement to allow for smooth transfer of services to whatever new scheme the Bòrd has in mind. We have yet to see any concrete plan for this crucial sector.

The Bòrd's machinations remain a mystery to the Gaelic world it purports to represent. It has refused to explain the reasons for its decisions.

This is unreasonable, even by the standards of a non-elected quango. We therefore challenge the Bòrd's senior officer, John Angus Mackay, to engage in a public debate on these matters. If the Bòrd fails in its duty to inform the public of the exact nature of its plans then it must inevitably lose support.

Alasdair Mearns

TAIC
East Muie
Rogart, Sutherland

Really, like I said before, thalla.

I seem to recall that one of the Bord's biggest concerns was that TAIC wasn't really willing to work cooperatively. Is this really the time to prove them right?

After TAIC's vicious response to the original announcement, is it any wonder they confirmed their decision and didn't go for a transitional period? Is it any wonder they don't want to work with people who attack and smear them in public?

Ever heard of winning friends and influencing people? Then give it a try next time!!!!

As deidh greis mhor air beachdachadh air, thainig e a steach orm gu bheil feum mhor againn air deasbaid beothail.

Mothaich mi gu bheil cuisean a fas nas miosa agus chan eil brath ri fhoatainn ach an loinne oifigeach. S e co-aonta chlumhaidh a th'ann eadar an buidhnean a fas chomhfhurtail anns an poca poblach, Bord Na Gaidhlig agus an oilthighean nam measg. Nam biodh tu troimh air an doighean TAIC, tha e direach cho chudthromach a cum suil gearr air an doighean aig an darna cuid.

Ged a tha iad beagan feargach uairannan, aig deireadh an latha, tha puingan cudthromach aig TAIC cuideachd.

Tha feum mhor againn air guthan agus smaointinn eadar-dhealachte.

Uill tha TAIC den bheachd nach eil conaltraidh air a bhith ann ach co-dhiù ge b’e beachd aig daoine air sin tha aon phàirt den ro-innleachd aig an Riaghaltas* (Bòrd na Gàidhlig) a tha a’ cur dragh orm. Chan urrainn dhomh gun a bhith smaoineachadh gur e rud caran cunnartach a th’ ann gus cùisean a thoirt don ùghdarrasan ionadail san àrainneach-ionmhais a tha mu an timchioll an dràsta fhèin. Cha mhòr nach eil iad a’ tuiteam as a chèile aig an àm a tha seo. Saoilidh mi nach eil sin fada air falbh bho paradigm gu tur diofraichte nuair a thig sgrios air na seirbhisean a tha na h-ùghdarrasan a toirt dhuinn. Dh’fhaighnich cuideigin dà cheist de Art ann an àite eile agus seo iad leis na freagairtean a thug Art dhaibh:

" A bheil e a-nis na dleasdanas reachdail air na ùghdarrasan fhoghlum reachdail (na comhairlean roinneil) a thairgse foghlum fo aois sgoile as Gàidhlig?

Chan eil.

Mur eil: Carson a tha am Bòrd an dùil gum bith ùghdarrasan ionadail a tha a'
coimhead air adhart ri bliadhna air am bith an sporan tana, deònach a mhaoinich goireasan airson na Gaidheal mur eil dleasdanas reachdail aca sin a dhèanamh?

Chan eil sinn an dùil gur e sin a tha a' dol a thachairt."

A-nis dè dol a thachairt do na h-ùghdarrasan ionadail? Far a bheil mise a’ fuireach bidh moran den luchd-obrach a’ dol dhan roinn-priobaideach agus a h-uile coltas ann gum bi an t-amar-snaimh agus goireasan eile a’ dol gu ‘arm’s length company’ (fiù ‘s air a measgadh le seirbhisean bho sgìrean ionadail eile). A-rèir an fhear-dheasaiche don pàiper naidheachd againn (Nairnshire Telegraph) tha sinn an impis ‘de-construction’ de Comhairle na Gaidhealtachd fhaicinn agus nam bheachd-sa chan eil e fada cearr. Chan eil càil a dh’fhios de dìreach a bhios air fhàgail de na dleasdanas reachdail aig ceann 2011 gun a bhith toirt iomradh air na seirbheisean aig nach eil dleasdanas sam bith. Tha am Bòrd airson foghlum fo aois sgoile a chur am teas meadhan an stoirm ionmhais a tha seo. Saoil am bidh sin air aire na nàmhaidean agus na shar chothrom dhaibh?
Seadh dh’fhaodadh am Bòrd a ràdh gur ann le airgid a sporan diofraichte a tha e ach chan eil agad ach sùil a thoirt air an Highland News an t-seachdainn seo gus a bhith faicinn ciamar as urrainn do snìomh nimheil a thoirt air cuspair sam bith ceangailte leis a’ Ghàidhlig. Agus chan eil e furasta do fhreagairt faighinn tarsainn don mhòr-shluaigh as deidh làimh.
Saoilidh mi nach bi e a’ tachairt idir, idir, ach bu choir don bhòrd feitheamh bliadhna eile no buidhnean neo-eismileachd ùr san ìomhaigh fhèin a cruthachadh an àite geama roulette a chluich.

Do we have a precedent for the privatisation of pre-school care and education in any other council area?
External management of sports facilities is nothing new -- most councils did that ages ago, so the fact that Highland Council are doing that does nothing to suggest they're going to privatise the preschools.