West Lothian Council has approved a Gaelic Language Plan
The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 makes it a statutory requirement that all Scottish councils develop a Gaelic Language Plan. West Lothian Council is one of the last Local Authorities in Scotland to approve a plan. The Act aims to promote and facilitate the promotion of the use and understanding of the Gaelic language.
Council Leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick said: "It's a statutory requirement to have a plan in place.
"The council's Gaelic Language Plan and the actions contained in the plan recognise that the West Lothian Council area has not been one of Scotland's traditional Gaelic speaking areas, nor has a large number of people who speak Gaelic today. The plan is therefore proposing that the council will pursue a pragmatic approach to help develop the Gaelic language. The actions have therefore focused on an incremental approach to the introduction of responses to customers in Gaelic, where this is appropriate, provide training to staff who require Gaelic language in order to undertake their duties and to enhance and develop the use of Gaelic language through education in schools."
