Mike Russell: Attack on Gaelic spending is prejudice

Speaking as more than 5 million of new funding was announced for the language Mr Russell said hostility towards Gaelic was due to the language not being given its proper place in the past.

"There remain those who are unconvinced either that the language has, or should have a future," he said. "In recent months we have also seen some harsh criticism of the promotion of Gaelic in Scotland. Questions have even been raised about the value of any support for Gaelic.

"Some such criticism will always be with us – that is the nature of life. But some of the recent commentary has shamed Scotland. And the argument that continuing public support for Gaelic is a misuse of public funds is not a view, but a prejudice."

Mr Russell said no part of public expenditure was immune from re-examination, but added: "When a language – a way of seeing, an expression of identity, a carrier of our past, a hope for our future and the greatest of cultural vehicles – is in the emergency ward, it is not only cruel but shockingly perverse to arrogantly call for the life support machine to be switched off."

Delivering the annual lecture at Sabhal Mr Ostaig, the Gaelic college in Skye, Mr Russell announced 50,000 for a website for Gaelic learners.

He also welcomed the 5.29m awarded yesterday to a partnership of four universities which will carry out the largest ever programme of research into the regeneration of Gaelic and efforts to encourage new speakers.

The minister outlined plans to halt the decline of Gaelic and create a new generation of speakers of the language.

Critics of spending on Gaelic include Caithness councillors opposed to bi-lingual road signs.

Councillor John Rosie also recently spoke out against the award of 35,000 for a Gaelic development officer for Caithness and 80,000 for a consultant to prepare a Gaelic plan for the NHS.

Mr Rosie said: "Having over 5.3m going into the promotion of Gaelic, having regard for the economic situation in this country and the choices of savage cuts being made in local government and the health service, I think it's ludicrous."

Mr Russell said he had yet to become a fluent Gaelic speaker despite beginning to learn 32 years ago while living in Uist. He said this was due to lack of application "but party also because, no matter the structures, Comhairle nan Eilean (Western Isles Council) never required its employees to live up to its policies.

"The Colonial Civil Service did much better in enforcing language acquisition," he said.

A council spokesman said it looked forward to working with the Scottish Government in developing Gaelic and hoped it would be backed up with the necessary resources. He said: "The comhairle remains committed to the Gaelic language and its development and would be delighted to assist Mr Russell in his aspiration to be fluent in Gaelic in way we can."

25m SUPPORT

GAELIC receives about 25 million a year from the public purse.

The money includes a grant to Brd na Gidhlig, the national Gaelic development agency which last year received 4.4m.

Government aid is given to local authorities for Gaelic arts projects and Gaelic medium education, which has expanded considerably since the early 1980s.

BBC Alba began broadcasting last September with a budget of 14 – 4m from the BBC and 10m from MG Alba, a Gaelic media body funded by the Scottish Government and regulated by Ofcom.