The Wendish Research Exchange - McLeod, Konstanze: Support Structures and Financial Mechanisms for the Gaelic Language in Scotland

Lětopis Abstract 2014 2: McLeod, Konstanze: Support Structures and Financial Mechanisms for the Gaelic Language in Scotland

The funding structures for the support and promotion of Gaelic in Scotland involve a large number of different organisations and discrete mechanisms. It is not really meaningful to think in terms of a single budget whose components could be determined and reallocated on the basis of a single decision process. Most obviously, the funding structures for Gaelic broadcasting, Gaelic education and Gaelic development are entirely distinct. Decisions concerning broadcasting are ultimately made by the UK Government and the Scottish Government. Decisions concerning education funding are made by the Scottish Government, by individual local authorities and by Bòrd na Gàidhlig. The latter is a non-departmental public body (NDPB) that is responsible for the implementation of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 and also directly in charge of funding decisions for general Gaelic development. A small number of Gaelic projects have been co-funded by other organisations (public as well as private), and 2013 saw the first ever crowd-funded initiative in support of Gaelic, but the extent of such contributions is negligible in light of the overall amount required for the maintenance of current Gaelic institutions and services. By far the largest share of funding decisions for Gaelic can thus be said to be in the hands of politicians elected by Scottish voters at the local and national level, rather than chosen directly by the Gaelic community, with the members of Bòrd na Gàidhlig being appointed in a standard public appointments process.