THE parent’s group who raised concerns about a skip filled with Gaelic learning resources have questioned how an investigation will help after the council announced a probe into the issue.
The National reported on Monday how a rubbish skip outside education offices on Dalintart Drive in Oban had been found filled with new Gaelic books.
Alison Craig, the chair of Comann nam Pàrant an Òbain, a parents' advice and support organisation for Gaelic Medium Education, claimed there had been thousands of pounds worth of learning resources dumped.
Asked for a response, Argyll and Bute Council said it was “aware of an issue relating to the disposal of materials in Oban and we are conducting a full investigation”.
However, Craig questioned how an investigation could address the issue at all.
“We (Comunn nam Pàrant an Òbain) are in effect now doing the job the council should have,” she added.
The Gaelic parents’ group chair said she had been in contact with councillors and other locals “who are as outraged as I am” about the incident.
She went on: “I have been heartened by the Gaelic community from all over the world coming together as a whole and sending on many messages of support, both for the saving of the books and resources and kind messages in support of pushing for answers from Argyll and Bute Council.
“I'd also like to thank the many people who helped rescue as much as possible, and who currently have their homes overrun by books as we coordinate getting the resources to those who should have had them in the first place.”
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Craig added that she had received “many, many” messages requesting the books if they were going to waste.
However, she said they would “be prioritising the Gaelic Medium Units within Argyll and Bute and then the members of the public within the council area before anything is passed on to further afield”.
“These resources that were binned belong to those residents of Argyll and Bute just as much as to us,” Craig added.
She further said that the story had sparked widespread interest, and that journalists from media outlets such as the BBC had been in touch.
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