This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Financial support for Gaelic broadcasting
23/03/2007
Fhuair Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig (GMS) £3 millean a bharrachd gach bliadhna gus cuideachadh a' stèidheachadh sianal telebhisean didseatach Gàidhlig a thathar an dùil a chur air bhog nas fhaide air adhart am-bliadhna.
Ann an Steòrnabhagh an-diugh, thuirt Ministear a' Chultair Patricia NicFhearghais gun robh a' Ghàidhlig a' neartachadh Alba agus gun robh an Riaghaltas a' cur làn thaic ri cumail a' chànain beò san àm ri teachd.
Cleachdaidh GMS an t-airgead airson prògraman a bharrantachadh a bhios air an craoladh nuair a thòisicheas an sianal ùr am-bliadhna.
Gheibh GMS £100,000 eile cuideachd airson tasglann Gàidhlig Scottish Media Group a cheannach. Tha SMG air a bhith ag ullachadh agus a' craoladh prògraman Gàidhlig airson iomadh bliadhna agus tha iad air tasglann mòr a chur ri chèile.
Thuirt am Ministear:
"Tha am maoineachadh seo a' sealltainn gu bheil sinn dha-rìreabh ag iarraidh cleachdadh na Gàidhlig an Alba a bhrosnachadh. Tha e cuideachd a' toirt àite dhan taic a tha sinn a' toirt dha craoladh Gàidhlig agus a' sealltainn cho cudromach 's a tha an cànan dhan eachdraidh agus cultar againn.
"Bu chòir gun toireadh telebhisean didseatach Gàidhlig buaidh mhòr air inbhe agus cleachdadh a' chànan, a' cur ri misneachd luchd-labhairt agus luchd-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig. Bidh e cuideachd a' cur ri sgilean ealain agus teicneòlais agus a' leudachadh cothroman eaconamach.
"Tha GMS agus am BBC air adhartas mòr a dhèanamh a dh'ionnsaigh lìbhrigeadh seirbheis telebhisein Gàidhlig agus cuiridh an t-seirbheis seo ri na seirbheisean a tha aig a' BhBC a-cheana air rèidio agus an eadar-lìon.
"Bidh an tasglann Gàidhlig aig SMG na stòras luachmhor airson na seirbheis telebhisein didseatach Gàidhlig ùr."
Thuirt Cathraiche GMS Niall Friseal:
Tha seo na cheum cudromach a dh'ionnsaigh stèidheachadh seirbheis dhidseatach Ghàidhlig, a bheir gu luchd-amhairc air feadh na dùthcha prògraman telebhisein sònraichte a tha bonntaichte ann an cultar na Gàidhlig agus a' sealltainn miannan Ghàidheil ann an Alba an latha an-diugh, agus tha sinn toilichte gu bheil Riaghaltas na h-Alba a toirt taic dhuinn. Bho thòisich Riaghaltas na h-Alba ann an 1998, 's ann bhuaithe a thàinig a' chuid as motha de mhaoineachadh airson telebhisean Gàidhlig. Bheir am meudachadh £3m seo cothrom air an t-sianal Ghàidhlig a chur air bhog nas fhaide air adhart sa bhliadhna.
________________
English version
The Gaelic Media Service (GMS) has been given an extra £3 million a year to help establish the Gaelic digital television channel due to be launched later this year.
In Stornoway today, Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson said Scotland was enriched by the existence of Gaelic and the Executive was committed to creating a sustainable future for the language.
The GMS will use the funding to commission a range of programmes to broadcast when the new channel is launched later this year.
GMS will also receive an additional £100,000 towards the purchase of the SMG Gaelic archive. SMG has been preparing and broadcasting Gaelic programmes for many years and has built up a substantial archive.
The Minister said:
"This funding demonstrates that we are serious about promoting the use of Gaelic in Scotland. It also recognises our commitment to Gaelic broadcasting and reflects the importance of the language to our history and culture.
"Gaelic digital television should have a significant impact on the status and use of language, boosting the confidence of Gaelic native speakers and learners. It will also build artistic and technical skills and extend economic opportunities.
"GMS and the BBC have made significant progress towards delivery of a dedicated Gaelic television service and this service will complement existing radio and online services already provided by the BBC.
"The acquisition of the huge Gaelic archive held by SMG will be a valuable resource for the new Gaelic digital TV service."
GMS Chairman Neil Fraser said:
"This is a welcome step towards the establishment of the Gaelic digital service, which will offer viewers throughout the country a unique range of television programmes that are rooted in Gaelic culture and reflect the aspirations of Gaels in today's Scotland, and we are pleased to have the Scottish Executive's support.
"Since devolution in 1998, the Scottish Executive has been the principal provider of Gaelic TV funding. This increase of £3m will enable the Gaelic channel to get off the ground later this year."