Up to £97,000 is to be invested into a Gaelic education and cultural heritage centre on the Isle of Islay.

The funding will enable the Islay Gaelic Centre to upgrade its early years and youth room, create new ancestry and heritage areas in the Centre, and make improvements to its facilities including the installation of a new energy-saving heating system.

The Gaelic Capital Fund investment will also fund new digital learning technology, with Gaelic-enabled software and apps, to benefit Islay-based students and distance-learning students throughout Argyll and the University of the Highlands and Islands network.

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Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the government is "committed to growing a new generation of users of the Gaelic language".

"Increasing access to Gaelic medium education, from early years onwards, is key to achieving that ambition," he said.

"I am pleased to announce this funding, which will allow this successful and popular community hub to continue to flourish. It will bring educational and economic benefits to the area and help the centre to meet the demand for Gaelic language and cultural education in Argyll and Bute."

Islay Gaelic Centre Chair, Cathie Johnston said: "On behalf of Islay Gaelic Centre I wish to express my gratitude for this most welcome award. It will make a huge difference to our Centre to have such a major upgrade in our facilities and in our ability to deliver Gaelic courses to people of all ages throughout Argyll."

(LM/MH)