Targeted action to support Scotland’s islands

Island communities are set to benefit from a new plan to improve housing and healthcare, alongside efforts to grow the economy and increase the number of people living on Scotland’s islands.

The second National Islands Plan will deliver targeted actions across seven key themes, including committing to delivering more affordable homes, improving access to childcare and exploring permanent transport links – specifically bridges and tunnels to improve connectivity. The Plan also introduces further efforts to pilot remote diagnosis technology to improve access to medical advice.

Further actions include an island scholarship pilot scheme for postgraduate students, and the promotion of Gaelic and island languages such as Orcadian and Shetlandic.

Launching the refreshed plan while visiting Orkney and Shetland, First Minister John Swinney said:

“Island communities are a key national asset and are central to our vision of Scotland as a successful country in which to live, work and study.

“Islanders have told us clearly what they need to pursue their ambitions: homes they can afford, transport they can rely on, and more accessible local services – this plan will deliver for our island communities. It is focused, it is practical, and it puts islanders in the driving seat of their own future.

“When our islands thrive, Scotland thrives.”

Louise McQuaid, Young Islanders Network Senior Development Worker said:

“The Young Islanders Network (YIN) is delighted to see the release of the New National Islands plan and we are particularly pleased that some of our key feedback can be seen in the actions of the new plan. We welcome the continued support for YIN within the plan and look forward to helping ensure that the voices of young islanders are heard and able to influence decision making which affects their lives.”

Luke Fraser from the Scottish Islands Federation added:

“The Scottish Islands Federation welcomes the Scottish Government’s continued commitment to island focused policymaking through the National Islands Plan II and we look forward to working in collaboration to implement the key priorities. Ongoing, dedicated support for islands is essential – not as an extension of rural policy, but as a recognition that islands face some fundamentally different challenges and opportunities. As the Plan moves into delivery, sustained focus, long-term investment and meaningful partnership will be key to ensuring it delivers lasting benefits for island communities.”

The second National Islands Plan has been Informed by extensive engagement with communities and local partners.

Across the plan, there are seven strategic objectives collectively aimed at promoting population retention and attraction:

• Connectivity – Improving transport links and digital coverage to strengthen two-way access to markets, jobs and services.
• Housing – Delivering more affordable homes and making sure the right types of housing are available where people need them.
• Health and social care – Making it easier to access health and care services closer to home, including through video consultations and remote diagnosis.
• Economy, education and skills – Supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and giving islanders opportunities to learn and train locally.
• Climate, nature and energy – Helping islands move to clean energy, protect their environment, and benefit from renewable energy projects.
• Poverty and social justice – Tackling higher living costs on islands and making sure people can access the support they need.
• Empowered communities and culture – Supporting local leadership, building community capacity, and supporting island cultures, languages and heritage.

National Islands Plan – gov.scot

National Islands Plan 2026 Easy Read – gov.scot

Plana Nàiseanta nan Eilean

Gnìomhan amasaichte gus taic a chumail ri eileanan na h-Alba.

Tha coimhearsnachdan eileanach gu bhith a’ faighinn bhuannachdan fo phlana ùr a tha airson taigheadas agus cùram-slàinte a leasachadh, agus bho oidhirpean airson an eaconamaidh fhàs agus an àireamh de dhaoine àrdachadh a tha a’ fuireach ann an eileanan na h-Alba.

Bidh an dàrna Plana Nàiseanta nan Eilean a’ lìbhrigeadh ghnìomhan amasaichte thar seachd prìomh chuspairean; nam measg, tha gealltanas ann gun tèid tuilleadh dhachaighean a thoirt seachad aig prìs reusanta, gheibh daoine cothrom nas fheàrr air cùram-cloinne, agus thèid sùil nas gèire a thoirt air ceanglaichean-còmhdhail maireannach – gu h-àraid, drochaidean is tunailean – leis an gabh comasan-ceangail a leasachadh. Tha am Plana cuideachd a’ toirt a-steach oidhirpean a bharrachd gus deuchainnean a dhèanamh air teicneòlas diagnosachd a ghabhas a chleachdadh air astar, airson ’s gum faigh daoine cothrom nas fheàrr air comhairle mheadaigeach.

Am measg ghnìomhan eile, tha sgeama-dearbhaidh gu bhith ann air sgoilearachdan eileanach do dh’oileanaich fhor-cheum, a bharrachd air oidhirpean gus Gàidhlig agus cànanan eileanach leithid Sealtainnis agus dual-chainnt Arcaibh a bhrosnachadh.

Nuair a chuir e am plana ùraichte air dòigh mar phàirt dhen turas aige a dh’Arcaibh agus Sealtainn, thuirt am Prìomh Mhinistear John Swinney na leanas:

“Tha coimhearsnachdan eileanach nam prìomh phàirt dhen nàisean againn, ’s iad aig cridhe na lèirsinn againn gum bi Alba na dùthaich shoirbheachail anns am faod daoine fuireach, obair agus ionnsachadh.

“Tha muinntir nan eilean air innse dhuinn gu soilleir na dh’fheumas iad airson an cuid amasan a leantainn: dachaighean aig prìs reusanta, còmhdhail anns an gabh earbsa a chur, agus seirbheisean ionadail a tha nas ruigsinniche. Thèid toraidhean a lìbhrigeadh dha na coimhearsnachdan eileanach againn leis a’ phlana seo; ’s ann fòcasaichte, practaigeach a tha e, ’s e a’ fàgail muinntir nan eilean os cionn an ama ri teachd aca fhèin.

“Ma tha eileanan na h-Alba soirbheachail, tha Alba fhèin soirbheachail.”

Thuirt Louise McQuaid, Àrd-oifigear Leasachaidh aig Lìonra nan Eileanach Òga, na leanas:

“Tha e na thoileachas mòr do Lìonra nan Eileanach Òga (YIN) gun tèid tionndadh ùr de Phlana Nàiseanta nan Eilean fhoillseachadh, agus tha sinn gu h-àraid toilichte gu bheil cuid dhe na prìomh mholaidhean againn rim faicinn ann an gnìomhan a’ phlana ùir. Tha sinn a’ cur fàilte air an taic leantainnich a tha am plana a’ toirt dhan Lìonra, agus tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith a’ dèanamh cinnteach gun tèid guthan eileanach òga a chluinntinn agus gum faod iad buaidh a thoirt air co-dhùnaidhean a bhuineas ri am beatha.”

Thuirt Luke Fraser neach-labhairt bho Chaidreachas Eileanan na h-Alba na leanas:

“Tha Caidreachas Eileanan na h-Alba a’ cur fàilte air dealas leantainneach Riaghaltas na h-Alba – tron dàrna Plana Nàiseanta nan Eilean aige – gus poileasaidhean a dhèanamh a chuireas fòcas air na h-eileanan againn, agus tha sinn a’ dèanamh fiughair ri bhith ag obair còmhla airson na prìomhachasan as àirde a chur an gnìomh. ’S ann riatanach a tha taic shònraichte, leantainneach dha na h-eileanan againn – chan ann mar leudachadh air poileasaidhean dùthchail, ach mar sheòrsa aithneachadh gu bheil cuid a dhùbhlain agus cothroman ro na h-eileanan a tha gu tur eadar-dhealaichte bhon àbhaist. Fhad ’s a thathar a’ lìbhrigeadh amasan a’ Phlana, bidh fòcas leantainneach, tasgadh-airgid thar ùine fhada, agus com-pàirteachas brìoghmhor fìor chudromach ma thathar airson buannachdan maireannach a lìbhrigeadh do choimhearsnachdan eileanach leis a’ Phlana seo.”

’S ann air bun-stèidh conaltradh farsaing ri coimhearsnachdan is com-pàirtichean ionadail a chaidh an dàrna Plana Nàiseanta nan Eilean a leasachadh.

Thar a’ phlana, tha seachd cinn-uidhe ro-innleachdail gu bhith ann; còmhla, tha iad ag amas air glèidheadh is tàladh sluaigh a bhrosnachadh:

• Comasan-ceangail – A’ leasachadh cheanglaichean còmhdhail agus lìonraidhean didseatach airson cothroman dà-shligheach air margaidhean, obraichean agus seirbheisean a neartachadh.
• Taigheadas – A’ lìbhrigeadh tuilleadh dhachaighean aig prìsean reusanta agus a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil an seòrsa taigheadais ceart ri fhaotainn dhan fheadhainn a tha feumach air.
• Slàinte is cùram sòisealta – Ga dhèanamh nas fhasa do dhaoine cothrom fhaighinn air seirbheisean slàinte is cùraim a tha nas fhaisge air na dachaighean aca, mar eisimpleir tro cho-chomhairleachaidhean bhideo agus diagnosachd air astar.
• Eaconamaidh, foghlam agus sgilean – A’ cumail taic ri gnìomhachasan ionadail, a’ cruthachadh obraichean, agus a’ toirt chothroman do mhuinntir nan eilean gus pàirt a ghabhail ann an ionnsachadh is trèanadh ionadail.
• Gnàth-shìde, nàdar agus cumhachd – A’ toirt taic do dh’eileanan le bhith a’ gluasad gu cumhachd ghlan, a’ dìon na h-àrainneachd aca, agus a’ faighinn bhuannachdan à pròiseactan cumhachd ath-nuadhachail.
• Bochdainn agus ceartas sòisealta – A’ dèiligeadh ri cosgaisean bith-beò nas àirde anns na h-eileanan, agus a’ dèanamh cinnteach gum faigh daoine cothrom air an taic a dh’fheumas iad.
• Coimhearsnachdan agus cultar làidir – A’ cumail taic ri ceannas ionadail, a’ togail chomasan coimhearsnachd, agus a’ cumail taic ri cultaran, cànain is dualchas nan eilean.

National Islands Plan – gov.scot

National Islands Plan 2026 Easy Read – gov.scot