Mandarins given lessons in Gaelic thanks to 'toolkit'

CIVIL servants swot up on their French or German to help negotiations in Europe, so why not a few well chosen words in Gaelic to assist in parts of Scotland?

A new online "toolkit" launched yesterday is helping staff at three public bodies learn more about the language and some basic phrases to better connect with fluent speakers.

According to Andrew Thin, chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), which is one of three agencies involved in the project, learning the language as a courtesy to Gaelic speakers would create better relationships with the public.

He said there is a direct parallel with civil servants learning French or German to conduct business in Brussels.

"It is good manners which makes a difference in the relationship and makes it work better. We expect our civil servants to be able to say a few words in French or German to officials in the EC as a basic courtesy.

"There is no difference in asking people to have some basic Gaelic phrases as a polite way to begin whatever business is to be conducted."

The 6,000 project is initially being trialled by staff at SNH, Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and the Crofters Commission with each organisation contributing 1,300 towards it. It has also received funding from the Gaelic development agency, Brd na Gidhlig's, Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund.

The project yesterday received backing from both Alasdair Allan, the Scottish minister for Gaelic, and Dinny McGinley, the Irish minister of state with special responsibility for Gaeltacht affairs, who attended the launch.