Ulster-Scots

This commitment was consequently included in amendments to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, placing duties on the Executive to adopt a strategy setting out how it proposes to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language and Ulster-Scots culture, heritage and language.

This Strategy for Indigenous or Regional Minority Languages will be presented to the Executive in due course.

ULSTER SCOTS ACADEMY  

In 1998, the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement acknowledged the importance of respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to linguistic diversity, and made specific reference to Ulster-Scots.
In April 2003, the Joint Declaration by the British and Irish Governments committed the British Government to take steps to encourage support to be made available to an Ulster Scots Academy.  DCAL commissioned consultants (Deloitte MCS Limited) to carry out an economic appraisal of, and develop a business case to support, the proposal to establish an Ulster-Sots Academy.
In September 2004, Direct Rule Ministers approved the preferred option in the business case. This recommended an independent Academy affiliated to a university, based in central Belfast with outreach activities in areas where Ulster Scots speakers live.  Extensive consultation during the process indicated that the interested parties were largely content with this.

Budget
The 2005 budget, published in December 2004, announced a re-profiled budget of £12m over 5 years for the Academy. This was part of a £24m package that also gave £12m for the Irish Language Broadcast Fund.
David Hanson, the then Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure reaffirmed in June 2005 the Government’s commitment to support a £12m proposal for an independent Ulster-Scots Academy with university affiliation and announced the establishment of an Ulster-Scots-Academy Implementation Group (USAIG) to advise on the structure of an Ulster-Scots Academy.

Remit
The Remit for the Implementation Group tasked the Group with bringing forward recommendations to Ministers by December 2005 for the establishment of an Ulster Scots Academy including governance, staffing, location and a detailed business plan.
In tandem with developing the proposals for the establishment of the Academy, the Remit of the Implementation Group gave priority to taking forward ongoing “activities currently underway that can be resourced without delay” These activities were an Education Programme and a Language Development programme including:

• a dictionary,
• grammar,
• tape recorded survey,
• electronic text base,
• translation and spelling standardisation process
• a bible translation.

The USAIG subsequently produced a set of proposals for an Ulster-Scots Academy, in August 2006, and these proposals were subject to public consultation and EQIA.

Next Steps
As some time had elapsed since the original business case was prepared, and in recognition of the comments and concerns raised by consultees, DCAL commissioned a refresh of the existing business case (including an economic appraisal) to be updated in accordance with HM Treasury (April 2003) and Department of Finance & Personnel (DFP) guidance.  

The consultant’s (Deloitte) approach takes cognisance of the work undertaken by the Ulster Scots Academy Implementation Group in producing proposals for an Ulster Scots Academy and the subsequent responses to the Public Consultation and Equality Impact Assessment on these proposals.

The Consultants (Deloitte) are at an advanced stage of this review and it is anticipated that their findings and recommendations should be submitted to the Department in early 2009.

Albainis Uladh

Deir Comhaontú Chill Rímhinn (2006) ‘The Government firmly believes in the need to enhance and develop the Ulster-Scots language, heritage and culture and will support the incoming executive in taking this forward’

Ina dhiaidh sin áiríodh an tiomantas sin i leasuithe ar an Acht um Thuaisceart Éireann 1998, a leag dualgais ar an bhFeidhmeannacht chun glacadh le straitéis a leagfadh amach an chaoi a bhfuil sé beartaithe aici forbairt  cultúir, oidhreachta agus teanga na Gaeilge agus Albainis Uladh a fheabhsú agus a chosaint.

Cuirfear an Straitéis seo um Theangacha Dúchasacha nó Réigiúnacha Mionlaigh faoi bhráid na Feidhmeannachta in am tráth.

ACADAMH ALBAINIS ULADH

I 1998, d’aithin Comhaontú Bhéal Feirste / Aoine an Chéasta an tábhacht a bhaineann le meas, tuiscint agus caoinfhulaingt maidir le héagsúlacht teanga agus rinneadh tagairt shonrach ann d’Albainis Uladh.
In Aibreán 2003, cheangail an Comhdhearbhú ag Rialtas na Breataine agus Rialtas na hÉireann ar Rialtas na Breataine céimeanna a ghlacadh le moladh go gcuirfí tacaíocht ar fáil d’Acadamh Albainis Uladh. Choimisiúnaigh an RCEF comhairleoirí (Deloitte MCS Limited) chun breithmheas eacnamaíochta a dhéanamh ar an moladh chun Acadamh Albainis Uladh a bhunú agus chun argóint ghnó a fhorbairt chun tacú leis an moladh.
I Meán Fómhair 2004, d’fhaomh Airí um Riail Dhíreach an rogha roghnaithe sa chás gnó. Mhol sé sin Acadamh neamhspleách a bheadh cleamhnaithe le hollscoil, agus lonnaithe i lár Bhéal Feirste agus gníomhaíochtaí for-rochtana i gceantair a bhfuil cónaí ag lucht labhartha Albainis Uladh iontu. Thug comhairliúchán fairsing le linn an phróisis le fios go raibh na páirtithe leasmhara sásta leis sin den chuid is mó.

Buiséad
D’fhógair buiséad 2005, a foilsíodh i Nollaig 2004, buiséad athphróifílithe de £12m thar 5 bliana don Acadamh. Bhí sé sin ina chuid de phacáiste £24m a thug £12m freisin do Chiste Craoltóireachta na Gaeilge.
I Meitheamh 2005, d’athdhearbhaigh David Hanson, a bhí ina Aire Cultúr, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta ag an am tiomantas an Rialtais do thacú le moladh £12m um Acadamh Albainis Uladh neamhspleách le cleamhnú ollscoile agus d’fhógair sé bunú Grúpa Forfheidhmithe um Acadamh Albainis Uladh (USAIG) chun comhairle a thabhairt i leith struchtúr don Acadamh Albainis Uladh.

Sainchuspóir
Leag an Sainchuspóir don Ghrúpa Forfheidhmithe cúram ar an nGrúpa as moltaí a chur faoi bhráid Airí faoi Nollaig 2005 chun Acadamh Albainis Uladh a bhunú lena n-áireofaí rialachas, soláthar foirne, ionad agus plean gnó sonrach.
I dteannta le moltaí a fhorbairt chun an tAcadamh a bhunú, thug Sainchuspóir an Ghrúpa Fhorfheidhmithe tús áite do “ghníomhaíochtaí” leanúnacha “atá ar siúl faoi láthair ar féidir acmhainní a thabhairt dóibh gan mhoill” a thógáil ar aghaidh. Ba hiad na gníomhaíochtaí sin ná Clár Oideachais agus clár Forbartha Teanga, leis na nithe seo a leanas ina measc:

• foclóir,
• leabhar gramadaí,
• suirbhé ar théip,
• bonn leictreonach téacs,
• próiseas chun aistriúcháin agus litriú a chaighdeánú
• aistriúchán ar an mbíobla.

Ina dhiaidh sin rinne an USAIG sraith moltaí um Acadamh Albainis Uladh, i Lúnasa 2006, agus bhí na moltaí sin faoi réir comhairliúcháin phoiblí agus Measúnacht Tionchair Chomhionannais.

Na Chéad Chéimeanna Eile
Toisc go raibh roinnt ama imithe thart ó ullmhaíodh an bunchás gnó, agus mar aitheantas ar na tráchtanna agus na hábhair imní a d’ardaigh iad siúd a ndeachthas i gcomhairle leo, choimisiúnaigh an RCEF athbhreithniú ar an gcás gnó a bhí ann cheana (lenar áiríodh breithmheas eacnamaíochta) le nuashonrú de réir Státchiste na Banríona (Aibreán 2003) agus treoir ón Roinn Airgeadais agus Pearsanra (RA&P).

Coimeádann cur chuige an chomhairleora (Deloitte) i gcuimhne an obair a rinne an Grúpa Forfheidhmithe um Acadamh Albainis Uladh maidir le moltaí a dhéanamh d’Acadamh Albainis Uladh agus na freagraí ón gComhairliúchán Poiblí agus ón Measúnacht Tionchair Comhionannais i leith na moltaí sin.

Tá na Comhairleoirí (Deloitte) ag céim ard den athbhreithniú seo agus táthar ag súil go gcuirfear a gcuid torthaí agus moltaí faoi bhráid na Roinne go luath in 2009.

ULSTER SCOTS

The St. Andra’s ‘Greement saies at ‘The Government strangly houls at thair’s a need tae mak’ betther an’ forder the Ulster Scots leid, heirskeip an’heritage an’ wul heft the incummin Executive tae tak’ thon forrit.’

Accause o’ thon tha’ commitment wus pit intae amendements tae the Norlin Airlan Ect 19&98 pittin duties oan the Executive tae tak’ oan a strategy settin’ oot hoo hit purpones tae mak’ betther an bield the forderin o’ the Airish leid an’ Ulster Scots heirskeip, heritage an’ leid.

Thon Strategy fer Indigenous ir Locail Minoritie Leids wul bae pit afore the Executive laiter oan.

ULSTER SCOTS ACADEMIE

I 19&98 the Bilfawst/Guid Friday ‘Greement allooed at respect, unnerstannin an tholin adae wi’ diversity o’ leids wus important, an’ hit maide specific mention o’ Ulster Scots.

I Aprille 2003, the Joint Declaration bae the British an’ Airish Governments commitet the British Government tae tak steps tae gie hefts tae an Ulster Scots Academie.  DCAL tuk oan consultants (Deloitte MCS Limited) tae cairry oot an’ economic appraisal o’ an’ forder a business caase tae heft the propone tae stairt an Ulster Scots Academie.

I Sictimmer 2004, Direct Rule Meenesters approved the preferred chuse i the business caase.  Hit favourit an’ independent Academie linkit tae a university, based i the centre o’ Bilfawst wi’ outreach daeins i airts quhar Ulster Scots uisers bide.  Mich consultin’ durin’ the process shewed at the intherested boadies wur maistly content wi’ thon.

Budget

The 2005 budget, brocht oot i Decemmer 2004, announced a re-profiled budget o’ £12m owre 5 yeirs fer the Academie.  Thon wus pairt o’ a £24m package at gied £12m fer the Airish Leid Braidcast Fund forebye.

David Hanson, Meenester fer Fowkgates, Airts an’ bytim’  aa the tim’ i Juin 2005 reaffirmed the Government’s commitment tae heft a £12m purpone fer an independent UlsterScots Academie linkit tae a university an’ announced the stairtin’ o’ an Ulster Scots Academie Implementin’ Curn (USAIC) tae adwise oan the mak’ ap o’ an Ulster Scots Academie.

Remit

The remit fer the Implementin’ Curn gied the Curn the joab o’ bringin’ forrit recommendations tae Meenesters bae Decemmer 2005 fer the stairtin o’ an Ulster Scots Academie includin’ governance, staffin’, location an’ a detailed business plen.  Alang wi’ forderin the propones fer stairtin the Academie, the Remit o’ the Implementation Curn maide taakin forrit oangaein “daeins unnerwie the noo at can bae gien resources wi’oot delay” a priority.  Thae daeins wur an’ Education Programme an’ a Leid Forderin programme includin’:

• a dictionary,
• grammer,
• tape recorded survey,
• electronic baase o’ screeds,owresettin an’ spellin stannartisation process
• a bible owresettin

The USAIC laiter brocht oot a set o’ purpones fer an Ulster Scots Academie, i Ageest 2006, an’ thae propones wur pit tae public consultin’ an’ EQIA.

Nex’ Steps

Es sim’ tim’ hes gane by sine the business caase wus maide, an recognisin’ the remairks an’ consairns ris bae thaim consulted, DCAL commissioned a refreshin’ o’ the existin’ business caase (wi’ an economic appraisal es pairt o’ hit) tae bae apdated accordion tae HM Treasury (Aprille 2003) an’ Depairtment o’ Finance an’ Personnel (DFP) steerins.

The consultant’s (Deloitte) approach taks intae consideration o’ the waark unnertuk bae the Ulster Scots Academie Implementation Curn i producin’ purpones fer an’ Ulster Scots Academie an’ the repones gat tae the Public consultin’ an’ EQIA oan thae propones.

The consultants (Deloitte) ir neir finished thon review an’ thair finnins an’ recommendations shud bae pit intae the Depairtment i earlie 2009