Encouraging Gaelic census data shapes response to Scottish Languages Bill

Census data, which showed an increase in the number of people in the Highlands with Gaelic skills, has been discussed by Highland Council’s Gaelic committee as it seeks to shape a response to the Scottish Languages Bill.

As well as new duties and powers related to education the Scottish Languages Bill, which was granted royal assent on 17 June 2025, aims to support growth and opportunities in Gaelic through the creation of Areas of Linguistic Significance (ALS) in Gaelic communities.

The report which came before the Gaelic Committee identifies areas of linguistic significance based on the data, though it does not indicate any intention to designate these areas at this stage.

Chair of the Gaelic Committee, Cllr Drew Millar, said: “The census data looks encouraging for Highland and reflects the council’s commitment to the language in our schools and communities.

“We welcome the Scottish Languages Bill as it seeks to strengthen support and opportunities in Gaelic and now await the next steps to guide Areas of Linguistic Significance designations.”

 The census data from 2022 showed:

• There are 18,552 people in Highland with Gaelic skills – an increase of 11.79 per cent since 2011.
• All age groups, with the exception of 35-49 year olds, reflected an increase in Gaelic skills.
• The largest percentage increases were found in the age 3-15 and age 25-34 age groups – up 34.9 per cent and 39.97 per cent respectively.
• Eilean a’ Cheò (Skye and Raasay) is the only electoral ward within the Highland Council area which has over 20 per cent of the population with Gaelic skills.
• The wards in Caol and Mallaig; Fort William and Ardnamurchan and Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh all fall within the 10-19.9 per cent range, however there are areas within these wards, as well as in Inverness, that exceed the 20 per cent figure.

Highland Council is awaiting guidance from Scottish Government on the designation processes around Areas of Linguistic Significance.

Further analysis, community consultation and engagement will be essential before any decisions are made.

Under Section 1 of the Scottish Languages Bill, an area may be designated as an ALS if it meets one of two primary conditions:

(a)The area contains a significant number of people with Gaelic language skills; or

(b) The area does not contain a significant number of Gaelic speakers but demonstrates one or more of the following:

i. Historical connection with the use of Gaelic;

ii. Provision of teaching and learning through the Gaelic language;

iii. Significant activity relating to Gaelic language or culture.

The 20 per cent threshold has emerged as a key indicator for assessing whether an area contains a “significant number” of Gaelic speakers.

Areas which meet or exceed this threshold are considered strong candidates for ALS designation, but within the Highland Council there are areas which, on a ward-level, do not meet the 20 per cent threshold but do contain smaller census output areas which exceed the 20 per cent level.

These areas may also meet the cultural, educational or historical criteria outlined above.

Members agreed to a further assessment of electoral wards which exceed the 20 per cent Gaelic skills threshold and wards which are approaching the 20 per cent threshold.

The Council awaits publication of guidance from the Scottish Government to guide further analysis and site-selection processes.

At Wednesday’s meeting members were also given a progress report on the delivery of The Highland Council’s Gaelic Language Plan 2024–29 and shown sight of a largely positive post-event survey, which provided feedback on the Gaelic conference held at Eden Court and organised by Highland Council on 1 May 2025.

The reports which came before the Gaelic committee can be found here.

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Dàta Gàidhlig misneachail sa chunntas-shluaigh a’ cur fios ri freagairt do Bhile nan Cànan Albannach

Chaidh dàta a’ chunntais-shluaigh, a sheall àrdachadh san àireimh dhaoine air a’ Ghàidhealtachd le sgilean Gàidhlig, a dheasbad le Comataidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd a tha ag amas air freagairt a chur air dòigh do Bhile nan Cànan Albannach.

A bharrachd air dleastanasan is cumhachdan ùra a’ buntainn ri foghlam, tha Bile nan Cànan Albannach, a fhuair aonta rìoghail air 17 Ògmhios 2025, ag amas air taic a chur ri fàs is ri cothroman sa Ghàidhlig tro bhith a’ cruthachadh Sgìrean Cànain Sònraichte (SCS) ann an coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig.

Tha an aithisg a chaidh fa chomhair Comataidh na Gàidhlig a’ comharrachadh sgìrean cànain sònraichte stèidhichte air an dàta, ged nach eilear ag ainmeachadh nan sgìrean aig an ìre seo.

Thuirt Cathraiche Comataidh Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, an Comhairliche Drew Mac a’ Mhuilleir: “Tha dàta a’ chunntais-shluaigh a’ coimhead misneachail airson na Gàidhealtachd agus a’ sealltainn dealas na Comhairle dhan chànan sna sgoiltean is sna coimhearsnachdan againn.

“Tha sinn a’ cur fàilte air Bile nan Cànan Albannach a tha ag amas air taic is cothroman a neartachadh airson na Gàidhlig agus tha sinn a-nis a’ feitheamh ris na h-ath cheumannan a bhios a’ stiùireadh mar a thèid Sgìrean Cànain Sònraichte ainmeachadh.”

 Sheall dàta cunntas-sluaigh 2022 na leanas:

• Tha 18,552 neach ann an sgìre na Gàidhealtachd le sgilean Gàidhlig – àrdachadh 11.79 sa cheud bho 2011.
• Bha gach buidheann aois, ach a-mhàin aois 35–49, a’ sealltainn àrdachadh ann an sgilean Gàidhlig.
• Bha na h-àrdachaidhean a bu mhotha a thaobh nan àireamhan sa cheud rin lorg sna buidhnean aoise 3–15 is 25–34 – suas 34.9 sa cheud is 39.97 sa cheud.
• ’S e Eilean a’ Cheò (An t-Eilean Sgitheanach agus Ratharsair) an aon uàrd taghaidh taobh a-staigh sgìre Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd aig a bheil barrachd air 20 sa cheud dhen t-sluagh le sgilean Gàidhlig.
• Tha Uàrd a’ Chaoil agus Mhalaig; Uàrd a’ Ghearasdain, Àird nam Murchan agus Rois an Iar; agus Uàrd Shrath Pheofhair agus Loch Aillse uile taobh a-staigh an raoin 10–19.9 sa cheud, ach tha sgìrean taobh a-staigh nan uàrdan seo, a bharrachd air Inbhir Nis, far a bheilear a’ dol thairis air an fhigear 20 sa cheud.  

Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd a’ feitheamh stiùireadh bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba a thaobh nam pròiseasan ainmeachaidh co-cheangailte ris na Sgìrean Cànain Sònraichte. Bidh tuilleadh mion-sgrùdaidh, agus co-chomhairleachadh is com-pàirteachadh coimhearsnachd a dhìth mus tèid co-dhùnaidhean sam bith a dhèanamh.

Fo Earrann 1 de Bhile nan Cànan Albannach, faodar sgìre ainmeachadh mar SCS ma thathar a’ coinneachadh aon dhen dà phrìomh chumha a leanas:

(a) Tha àireamh shusbainteach de dhaoine san sgìre le sgilean Gàidhlig; no

(b) Chan eil àireamh shusbainteach de luchd-labhairt Gàidhlig san sgìre ach thathar a’ taisbeanadh aon no barrachd de na leanas:

i. Ceangal eachdraidheil le cleachdadh na Gàidhlig;

ii. Solar teagaisg is ionnsachaidh tron Ghàidhlig;

iii. Gnìomhachd shusbainteach a’ buntainn ri cànan no cultar na Gàidhlig.

Tha an stairsneach 20% air tighinn am bàrr mar phrìomh thaisbeanair airson a bhith a’ measadh co-dhiù a tha ‘àireamh shusbainteach’ de luchd-labhairt Gàidhlig ann an sgìre.

Tha sgìrean a tha a’ coinneachadh no a’ dol thairis air an stairsnich seo air am meas mar thagraichean làidir airson a bhith air an ainmeachadh mar SCS. Taobh a-staigh Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd tha sgìrean ann nach eil, aig ìre uàird, a’ coinneachadh na stairsnich 20% ach anns a bheil sgìrean toraidh cunntais-shluaigh nas lugha a tha a’ dol thairis air an ìre 20%. Math dh’fhaodte gun coinnich na sgìrean seo cuideachd na slatan-tomhais cultarach, foghlamach, no eachdraidheil a tha air am mìneachadh gu h-àrd.

Dh’aontaich buill gun deigheadh tuilleadh measaidh a dhèanamh air uàrdan taghaidh a tha a’ dol thairis air stairsneach 20% nan sgilean Gàidhlig agus uàrdan a tha a’ tighinn faisg air an stairsnich 20%.

Tha a’ Chomhairle a’ feitheamh gus an tèid stiùireadh bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba fhoillseachadh mus tèid tuilleadh mion-sgrùdaidh a dhèanamh is mus tèid pròiseasan a chur air dòigh gus làraich a thaghadh.

Aig a’ choinneimh Diciadain, chaidh aithisg adhartais a thoirt do bhuill mu lìbhrigeadh Plana Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd 2024–29. Chaidh suirbhidh a shealltainn dhaibh cuideachd, a chaidh a dhèanamh às dèidh na Co-labhairt Gàidhlig a chuir Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd air dòigh ann an Cùirt an Easbaig air 1 Cèitean 2025, agus a bha sa mhòr-chuid a’ moladh an tachartais.