The consultation will last for 12 weeks and will include an equality impact assessment exercise. The consultation document sets out proposals for the governance, staffing and location of an Ulster-Scots Academy, together with a three year outline business plan.
Speaking today, the Chair of the Ulster-Scots Academy Implementation Group, Dr Philip Robinson, said: “I am pleased to announce the commencement of a consultation process on proposals for an Ulster- Scots Academy. I believe this document is an important step forward for the Ulster-Scots community. The establishment of an Academy will be a major milestone in the recognition and development of Northern Ireland’s shared linguistic heritage.”
Dr Robinson explained that the proposal to resource a fully-functioning Academy stemmed from commitments made in the Good Friday Agreement 1998 and in the 2003 Joint Declaration between the British and Irish Governments.
Following an extensive consultation process and the production of a business case by independent consultants the then Minister for Culture, David Hanson, announced in 2005 that an Ulster-Scots Academy Implementation Group had been appointed to make recommendations for the establishment of an Ulster-Scots Academy.
Dr Robinson continued: “We firmly believe that for an Academy to be successful in preserving and developing the Ulster-Scots language it must be a partnership between the community, language practitioners and academia, and build on the ongoing work of these sectors.
“This consultation document provides the opportunity for the public to influence the shape of the Academy and its programme of activities in a way which will help benefit both native speakers and those interested in learning the language.
“The consultation period will last until Monday 24 September and the Ulster-Scots Academy Implementation Group will give careful consideration to all responses before making its final recommendations to the Minister. Once this important stage is completed we hope that the establishment of an Ulster-Scots Academy can be taken forward quickly in line with the commitments made by Government.”
Culture Minister, Edwin Poots MLA, added: “I am pleased to endorse this consultation process and I would encourage the people of Northern Ireland to read and respond to the proposals. It is their opportunity to put forward their views on how an Ulster-Scots Academy could be set up and managed over the next few years.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The purpose of the consultation document is to seek views on the governance, staffing and location of an Ulster-Scots Academy. The consultation period started today 2 July 2007 and will finish on 24 September 2007.
2. Copies of the consultation document can be accessed on (www.dcalni.gov.uk). Hard copies are available from Gavin Hiles, Ulster-Scots Academy Implementation Group Secretariat, Regent House, telephone:
028 91 826952 or e-mail gavinhiles@btconnect.com.
3. All responses should be submitted by 4pm on Monday 24 September 2007 to Response Co-ordinator, Ulster-Scots Academy Implementation Group Secretariat, Regent House, 35 Regent Street, Newtownards, BT23 4AD or e-mail phyllis.mulhol@btconnect.com.
4. The Remit for the Ulster-Scots Academy Implementation Group states that the group should “make recommendations to Minister for the establishment of an Ulster-Scots Academy including governance, staffing, location and a detailed business case … and implement recommendations once accepted by Ministers”.
