There has been a flurry of traffic on our website and also, we have received 17 letters.

Most of those commenting disagreed with Mrs Mackay who, speaking at the Brora Community Council meeting last week, criticised the Highland Council's decision to spend over £1.5m on developing Gaelic education in the Inverness area.

The Labour ward councillor for East Sutherland and Edderton claimed that it was an unnecessary expenditure in the current straitened economic circumstances.

And she also called into question Scottish Government legislation which forces local authorities to spend thousands of pounds on drawing up a Gaelic policy and promoting Gaelic language and culture.

She criticised it as an elitist policy which favoured the few rather than the many.

She said Highland Council had to meet the bill for Gaelic education, Gaelic development jobs and Gaelic road, street and building signs which were often erected to the opposition of local communities.

So strongly did Councillor Mackay feel that she claimed it should be a political issue at the next election.

One of those to comment on our website is renowned Gaelic promoter and Mod gold medallist, Arthur Cormack, who said he was responding on behalf of Bord na Gaidhlig, wrote: "I see no similar criticism from her of the Highland Council's decision, made on the same day, to spend £7m on a new primary school in Milton of Leys in Inverness.

"In the case of the Gaelic school, the expansion is needed because Bunsgoil Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis is at capacity, and is a success story. If the children in that school were not being educated in Gaelic, they would have to be educated in English, which would actually cost the Highland Council more from its own resources."

Mr Cormack has also written to the NT.

And he is to meet with Deirdre Mackay to discuss the issue. Speaking to the NT on Wednesday, Mrs Mackay said: "Arthur Cormack, chair of Bord na Gaidhlig, was in touch with me and I have accepted an invitation to meet with him and I look forward to a constructive meeting.

"It's disappointing that when questions are asked about Gaelic, it is immediately perceived as that person being anti-Gaelic. This is unfortunate and stands in the way of sensible debate.

"And I do have to say, honestly, that I have had tremendous support from both within the community and as far afield as the Isle of Lewis itself, where people are voicing their concerns.

"I, like many others, have the utmost respect for the Gaelic language and culture and the other traditions throughout the Highlands. However, this should not stand in the way of questioning the manner and the way in which scarce public money is spent."

carolinem@northern-times.co.uk

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