Frontline council staff could be trained to speak Gaelic as part of a new strategy aimed at reviving the ancient Celtic tongue across Perth and Kinross.
The local authority has revealed proposals for a £160,000 Gaelic Language Plan, to be rolled out over the next five years.
Council chiefs hope the blueprint – a revision of the original plan adopted in 2012 – will boost the dwindling number of local people who speak the language.
According to most recent figures, the number of residents who speak Gaelic has dropped from 1,453 to 1,287 (around 0.9% of the local population).
The draft plan, which goes to consultation this week, proposes “Gaelic early learning and childcare provision” as well as moves to improve the uptake of Gaelic education in schools.
The council is considering adopting a bilingual corporate logo, as well as creating new welcome signs at local authority buildings, including schools (when existing ones need to be replaced).
The plan (GLP) also includes guidelines for council staff on how and when to use Gaelic in relevant meetings and “where appropriate in day-to-day business.”
It is further proposed to train and invest in Gaelic teaching staff. The local authority has around 13 specialist Gaelic teachers, play leaders and support assistants.
There are also plans to bring the Gaelic short film competition, Film G, to Perth.
Plans to revive the language have proved controversial in the past. Councillor Willie Robertson earlier this year welcomed proposals to concentrate on areas with historical ties with the language, while pointing out that it has not been spoken in most of Kinross-shire since the middle ages.
“If the council continue the status quo, giving children the chance to learn more Gaelic in schools, then that’s fine,” he said.
“But we have to be careful about putting up too many bilingual roadsigns, which can be confusing. Its a tricky one to argue, especially when money is so tight in education at the moment.”
The plan has also be criticised by some on social media, with Facebook users questioning the use of public money.
A local authority spokesperson responded to one comment, stressing the development of the GLP was “fundamentally a legal requirement”.
Depute council leader Murray Lyle added: “Perth and Kinross Council is committed to the objectives set out in the National Plan for Gaelic which will put in place the necessary structures and initiatives to ensure that the language has a sustainable future in this area.
“Our new GLP sets out our plan for Gaelic over the next five years and through the public consultation the council is committed to getting the views of as many people as possible on how we can achieve this.”
