Extra cash in bid to boost Gaelic

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First Minister Alex Salmond will pledge an extra £7.5m to safeguard the future of the Gaelic language this week.

Mr Salmond will unveil the funding increase when he delivers the annual Sabhal Mor Ostaig lecture on Wednesday.

The money will be spent on education, the national plan for the language and also broadcasting.

The lecture will take place at the St Cecilia Hall in Edinburgh, where Mr Salmond will call for the creation of a "Celtic Lion" economy.

'New funding'

Mr Salmond will tell delegates: "We want to build a 'Celtic Lion' economy in Scotland and a strong economy and strong culture go hand-in-hand.

"That is true not just for Gaelic but for the whole of Scotland.

"Our programme to help safeguard the future of the Gaelic language is backed up by additional new resources - an extra £7.5m over the period of the spending review.

"This new funding includes £1m per year to be directed towards Gaelic education, £1m per year for the implementation of projects in the National Plan for Gaelic, and an additional £0.5m towards support for Gaelic broadcasting."

He added: "We have ambition for Scotland and ambition for the Gaelic language."