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The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, today (Tuesday 19 August) announced that the funding provided by the UK government to MG ALBA from 2014 to 2016 would increase by 拢1 million, doubling the government鈥檚 overall contribution to 拢2 million.

This additional 拢1 million is being made available this year (2014 to 2015) to support MG ALBA in producing high-quality Gaelic language content, including original dramas, and continue providing a valued service for Gaelic speakers in Scotland.

This builds on last year鈥檚 announcement by the government of 拢1 million for MG ALBA in 2015 to 2016, demonstrating the UK government鈥檚 sustained support for minority language broadcast services.

MG ALBA will use the extra funding to build on the success BBC ALBA has already achieved since it was established, reaching over 750,000 viewers a week on average.

Over 80 people from the independent production sector, the BBC and MG ALBA work at the MG ALBA campus, in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, broadcasting and producing Gaelic language programmes.

While visiting the MG ALBA campus Danny Alexander said:

I am delighted to be able to announce another 拢1 million of funding for MG ALBA this year. As someone who grew up in the islands, I know how important this service is to Gaelic speakers throughout Scotland and want to see it continue to grow.

Last year, I announced the first UK government funding for this service, to help them invest in quality Gaelic language drama. MG ALBA came back to me earlier this year, to say they could get this work going more quickly, and I am delighted to be able to give a positive response today.

The Gaelic language is an important part of the cultural heritage of this country, so it is right that the UK government should help.

This is an illustration of how Scotland has the best of both worlds 鈥� the UK鈥檚 broad shoulders coupled with devolution allows real investment in public services and the flexibility to spend it where it is needed.

Maggie Cunningham, chairperson of MG ALBA, which operates BBC ALBA in partnership with the BBC, welcomed the additional investment in the channel. She said:

This additional support is most welcome as it helps enable the channel to drive forward its commitment to developing programme-making in key areas of the channel鈥檚 creative operations.

It is very reassuring to see continuing support for Gaelic and BBC ALBA from across the political spectrum at both Scottish and UK levels.

BBC ALBA is founded on a partnership established in 2008 between MG ALBA and the BBC, providing Gaelic television, radio and online services. It is available on Freeview throughout Scotland and satellite and cable television throughout the UK.

BBC ALBA, in 2013 to 2014, attracted an average weekly audience of over 750,000 viewers, with 6.8 million watching BBC ALBA鈥檚 content via the BBC iPlayer.

MG ALBA is responsible for the provision of Gaelic broadcasting, and is regulated by Ofcom with its board appointed by the Secretary of State in consultation with the Scottish ministers.

An Riaghaltas a鈥� foillseachadh millean nota a bharrachd airson MG ALBA

An-diugh, dh鈥檉hoillsich Danny Alexander BP, 脌rd-R霉naire an Ionmhais, gun dheigheadh 脿rdachadh de mhillean nota a chuir ri maoineachadh MG ALBA airson 2014-16, a鈥� d霉blachadh tabhartas an Riaghaltais gu h-iomlan gu 拢2m.

Bidh am millean nota seo ri fhaotainn am-bliadhna (2014-15) gus obair MG ALBA ann a bhith a鈥� l矛bhrigeadh stuthan G脿idhlig aig 脿rd 矛re a choileanadh, nam measg nuadh-dr脿ma, agus a bhith a鈥� tairgse seirbheis luachmhor airson luchd-bruidhinn na G脿idhlig. Tha seo a鈥� togail air a鈥� mhillean nota a bharrachd a chaidh ainmeachadh an-uiridh leis an Riaghaltas airson MG ALBA ann an 2015-16, a鈥� sealltainn taic leantainneach an Riaghaltais airson seirbheisean craolaidh mion-ch脿nain.

Cuiridh MG ALBA an t-airgead a bharrachd gu feum gus togail air an t-soirbheas a th鈥� air a bhith aig BBC ALBA bho th貌isich e, le cuibheasach de luchd-amhairc seachdainneach de c貌rr is 750,000.

Tha c貌rr is 80 neach bhon roinn riochdachaidh neo-eisimeileach, am BBC agus MG ALBA ag obair aig 脿rainn MG ALBA ann an Ste貌rnabhagh air Eilean Le貌dhais, a鈥� craoladh agus a鈥� riochdachadh phr貌graman G脿idhlig.

Air thuras gu 脿rainn MG ALBA, thuirt Danny Alexander BP, 脌rd-R霉naire an Ionmhais:

Tha mi air leth toilichte am maoineachadh a bharrachd a tha seo airson MG ALBA fhoillseachadh am-bliadhna. Chaidh mise a thogail sna h-eileanan, agus tha l脿n fhios agam cho cudromach 鈥檚 a tha an t-seirbheis seo airson luchd-bruidhinn na G脿idhlig and tha mi airson a faicinn a鈥� dol am meud agus a鈥� f脿s.

An-uiridh, dh鈥檉hoillsich mi a鈥� chiad maoineachadh bho riaghaltas na RA airson na seirbheis seo, gus cuideachadh a thoirt dhaibh le dr脿ma G脿idhlig. An d猫idh do MG ALBA a r脿dh na bu thr脿ithe am-bliadhna gum biodh iad air chomas an obair seo a choileanadh nas tr脿ithe, tha mi air leth thoilichte an naidheachd seo a sgaoileadh an-diugh.

Tha G脿idhlig na p脿irt chudromach de dhualchas chultarail ar d霉thcha agus tha e iomchaidh gu bheil Riaghaltas na RA a鈥� toirt cuideachadh seachad.

鈥淭he seo mar shamhla air mar a tha a鈥� chuid as fhe脿rr aig Alba bho gach taobh 鈥� tha guailnean leathan na RA ann an co-bhonn le f猫in-riaghladh na h-Alba a鈥� ceadachadh airgead-seilbhe br矛oghmhor a chuir gu ruige seirbheisean poblach agus s霉bailteachd a chosg far a bheil feum.鈥�

Chuir Magaidh Choineagan, Cathraiche MG ALBA a tha a鈥� ruith BBC ALBA ann an co-bhanntachd leis a鈥� BhBC, f脿ilte air an airgead-seilbhe seo airson na seanail.

Thuirt i:

Tha sinn a鈥� cur f脿ilte chridheil air an taic a bharrachd seo agus bheir e cothrom dhan t-seanail a gualainn a chur ri leasachadh phr貌graman anns na roinnean as cudromaiche de dh鈥檕bair chruthachail na seanail.

Tha e a鈥� toirt fois inntinn dhuinn a bhith a鈥� faicinn taic a鈥� leantainn airson na G脿idhlig agus airson BBC ALBA bho raon fharsaing phoilitigeach aig 矛re na h-Alba agus na RA.

Tha BBC ALBA, a chaidh a st猫idheachadh ann an 2008 agus a tha air a ruith le MG ALBA ann an co-bhanntachd ris a鈥� BhBC, a鈥� toirt seirbheisean telebhisein, r猫idio agus air-loidhne gu luchd-amhairc.

Th脿laidh BBC ALBA, ann an 2013-14, cuibheasach de luchd-amhairc seachdainneach de c貌rr is 750,000, le 6.8 millean a鈥� coimhead phr貌graman BBC ALBA tro iPlayer a鈥� BhBC.

Tha raon 霉ghdarras aig MG ALBA craoladh G脿idhlig a l矛bhrigeadh. Tha iad air an riaghladh le Ofcom agus tha am B貌rd aca air a chuir an s脿s le R霉naire na St脿ite.