Gaelic Community Development and the Gàidhealtachd Question

Abstract

The present article discusses issues relating to territorially-differentiated community language development policy in the Scottish Gaelic and Irish contexts, and evaluates recent contributions to debate on the topic. The historical backdrop to current provision for Gaelic community development is explored within the wider context of Gaelic governance structures and funding streams. The article analyses current developments in the Scottish Government’s policymaking process in relation to Gaelic, including proposals relating to the establishment of a geographical Gàidhealtachd, and argues in favour of a new framework for Gaelic community development based on the model of Ireland’s Gaeltacht Act (2012). This would address both the ‘heartland’ and urban contexts, create a more localised level of language planning with greater community control and input, and establish the principle that Gaelic community development should be an elaborated policy area in its own right, with a clear statutory basis.