Introduction - Gaelic in Scotland

At the time of the 2011 census (currently the most up-to-date), 87,100 people aged three and over in Scotland (1.7% of the population) had some Gaelic language skills. Of these 87,100 people:

• 32,400 (37%) had full skills in Gaelic, that is could understand, speak, read and write
  Gaelic
• 57,600 (66%) could speak Gaelic
• 6,100 (7%) were able to read and/or write but not speak Gaelic
•  23,400 (27%) were able to understand Gaelic but could not speak, read or write it.

Highland, Eilean Siar and Glasgow City are the local authority areas with the largest numbers of people with some Gaelic language ability; home to almost half (49%) of those with some Gaelic language skills nationally, and 70.3% of people who used Gaelic at home.

The proportion of people aged three and over with some Gaelic language skills was highest in Eilean Siar (61%), Highland (7%) and Argyll & Bute (6%). In Glasgow City it was 1.7%, while this is the same as the national average, it represents a high density of Gaelic speakers within one geographic location. Of the people who were Gaelic speakers, 40% reported using Gaelic at home nationally, although the proportion varies geographically from 22.1% up to 79.2% according to how widely Gaelic is used in the local community.

Within households that had adults with some Gaelic skills, the incidence of Gaelic-speaking ability among children was 37.8% for children aged three to four, 48.6% at ages five to 11 and 46.3% at ages 12 to 17. However, at both the primary school and the secondary school stage the largest group of Gaelic speakers lived in households where no adult had any Gaelic skills (36.1% at ages five to 11 and 39.3% at ages 12 to 17).

THE GAELIC LANGUAGE (SCOTLAND) ACT 2005

The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 was passed by the Scottish Parliament with a view to securing the status of the Gaelic language as an official language of Scotland commanding equal respect to the English language.

One of the key features of the 2005 Act is the provision enabling Bòrd na Gàidhlig to require a public authority to prepare a Gaelic language plan. This provision was designed to ensure that the public sector in Scotland plays its part in creating a sustainable future for Gaelic by raising the status and profile of the language and creating practical opportunities for its use.

This is the second edition of the Scottish Police Authority’s Gaelic Language Plan, prepared within the framework of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005. It sets out how we will use, promote, enable and develop Gaelic in the delivery of our functions.

The Authority’s Gaelic Language Plan has been prepared in accordance with statutory criteria set out in the 2005 Act and having regard to the National Gaelic Language Plan and the Guidance on the Development of Gaelic Language Plans.

THE NATIONAL GAELIC LANGUAGE PLAN

The Scottish Police Authority supports the aim set out in the National Gaelic Language Plan 2018-23 that “Gaelic is used more often, by more people and in a wider range of situations.”

We are committed to achieving this aim by focussing our efforts on the following key areas;

• Promoting a positive image of Gaelic whenever we can as part of our day-to-day
  operations as an organisation.
• Increasing the use of Gaelic within our organisation and encouraging more people to
  use Gaelic more often when they interact with us
• Offering opportunities for our staff to learn about Gaelic.