COUNCILLORS have expressed hope that Gaelic education has a future in Argyll and Bute, despite an agreement not to pursue an all-Gaelic school in the area.

A motion that the council would not follow up the idea was unanimously agreed at a full meeting after a consultation found that fewer than half of respondents were in favour.

However, one councillor raised the possibility of a dedicated Gaelic unit in one of the council’s existing secondary schools, while another sang the praises of Gaelic education at a primary school.

The discussion took place at a full council meeting on Thursday, September 26.

Councillor Amanda Hampsey (Conservative, Oban South and the Isles) said: “Being a councillor in an area that is quite passionate about Gaelic, and being passionate about it myself, I find it difficult to ensure you have reached all parents and prospective parents about their views.

“Has there been consideration given to an amalgamation with one of our existing schools?”

Executive director Douglas Hendry responded: “The short answer has two parts. The first is that we were asked by Scottish ministers to carry out a consultation, and that is what we did.

“Second part – would it be possible to look at other things within the existing school estate? In principle, yes, but at this point in time, I would say the same issues would arise in terms of funding and staffing.

“We do not have any specific pressure or push from a locality to do that, so we have done what we were asked to do.

“We did not look at the possibility that Councillor Hampsey has raised, because it did not feature in the request, but the council can look at anything it wants to in relation to its powers and functions.

“But I am not aware of any heavy duty pressure to do that type of thing at any location in Argyll and Bute at the moment.”

Councillor Gordon Blair (SNP, Cowal) added: “I am delighted that this is something that does not necessarily go off the table and is not in tablets of stone.

“Regarding the strategy Argyll and Bute has had in regards to Gaelic, and the very successful Gaelic unit at Sandbank Primary. There are over 34 young people enjoying a bilingual experience, and the early learning centre figures are up to 13.

“You have got to sing our praises with regards to staff in the school and elsewhere in Argyll and Bute. We have to ensure this bilingual experience that children are having really puts them in good stead for their educational journey.”

Councillor Audrey Forrest (SNP, Dunoon), who was named as the council’s new policy lead for Gaelic earlier in the meeting, then put forward a motion.

She asked that the authority “Agrees that against a backdrop of reducing budgets and competing priorities, the council is not in a position to pursue this matter any further at this time, and will continue to pursue a more equitable approach, with provision of Gaelic in existing schools across the wider area, ensuring pupils have access.”

The motion was then unanimously approved by the council.