At a risk of repeating myself, the fledglings first port of call should ALWAYS be the local pipeband, the Pipemajor may do lessons and can point you in the right direction if he doesnt.
secondly a band will teach you to play for "peanuts" provideing you will play with them a few times, often they will loan you a decent set of pipes when your ready, its good to "buddy up" with another piper the same level as you to make good progress, the PM will often know of decent secondhand sets going for sale, and you can as the PM or another piper tocheck them out.

dont be afraid of apporoaching pipe bands, its a great and inexpensive way of learning.