The Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Cllr Paul Steele, has formally welcomed the announcement of the Islands Accelerator Model, a new funding initiative introduced by the Scottish Government to drive infrastructure improvements across the Western Isles, Orkney, and Shetland.

The initiative was unveiled by Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, as part of the 2026/27 Scottish Budget. This outcome-based model is designed to provide long-term investment for social and economic infrastructure. Under the new framework, specific projects for the Western Isles will be developed and agreed upon, leading to a structured timeline for payments and delivery.

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Cllr Paul Steele expressed his support for the commitment: "I welcome the announcement of an Islands Accelerator Model which will invest hundreds of millions of pounds in the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland. This funding award will allow Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to make significant improvements to infrastructure in the Western Isles and will deliver real benefits for our communities."

The Comhairle is already identifying potential projects and continues to engage with the Scottish Government to finalise the operational details of the funding. Cllr Steele also extended his thanks to council officers and counterparts in the Northern Isles for their collaborative work in securing the investment.

In addition to the infrastructure boost, the Comhairle is currently evaluating the broader impact of the 2026/27 Scottish Budget on local services. This analysis follows recent concerns raised by the council regarding the UK Government's Local Growth Fund, which saw the Highlands and Islands excluded from a £140 million allocation.

Residents are being encouraged to participate in the local budget-setting process by completing the Comhairle's public survey. Further updates regarding the impact on public service delivery will be issued once the financial assessments are complete.