PLANS to introduce Gaelic education provision in Inverclyde Academy are back on the table.

Education bosses commissioned an independent consultation on the options for secondary school provision following objections by parents against the proposal when it was announced last year.

Following the outcome of the report, education chiefs want to rule out building a standalone Gaelic secondary and any joint provision agreement with other local authorities.

They cite a number of grounds, including cost.

In the report it is estimated a new school would cost £15 million and have running costs of £800k a year.

Inverclyde Council are under pressure to come up with an alternative following a decision to stop funding free school transport for 12 pupils who currently attend the Glasgow Gaelic High School.

Now the education and communities committee will be asked to give the go-ahead for a fresh proposal to be developed to allow Gaelic education at Inverclyde Academy, starting from August 2024.

A report to the committee by education director Ruth Binks she said: "Given the significant benefits and fewer risks associated...officers recommend taking this option forward.

"Significant benefits include having capacity at the link secondary school to accommodate the provision, allowing for the development of cluster arrangements to provide clear progression pathways and to deliver enhanced support where required.

"Pupils would transfer alongside peers in the knowledge that they could continue to develop their Gaelic language skills, gain qualifications and have access to a wide range of subjects and opportunities for wider achievements where subjects could not be provided in Gaelic.

"There would be the space to deliver a wider Gaelic curriculum offer as numbers increased, and a commitment to working with Whinhill [Primary] to promote Gaelic arts and culture.

"If the committee agrees that secondary Gaelic provision is to be created in Inverclyde starting in 2024/25 then officers will bring back a proposal for statutory consultation to establish the provision."

Parents whose children learn Gaelic at Whinhill Primary have been calling for action on secondary school provision in recent years.

It follows increasing demand on placement requests at that Glasgow Gaelic High School, with 12 local pupils currently attending.

At the moment 55 children are taught in Gaelic at Whinhill Primary.