A meeting to discuss plans to expand the use of Gaelic in Dundee finally went ahead last night after a quorum of people were mustered at a rescheduled event.
More than a dozen people turned up at a meeting to discuss the council’s proposals to expand the use of Gaelic in the city.
The event had originally been held on January 7 but had to be rescheduled after just one person turned up.
Bill Findlay, who works for the chief executive’s department, is responsible for drafting the plan, which is designed to boost the popularity of the language in Dundee.
He said: “This is about developing respect (for the Gaelic language) but also keeping our proposals in proportion.
“We have received a great deal of feedback on the plan online already, much of which has been positive.
“Some people have questioned why we are focusing on this issue, when there is unemployment and poverty in the city, while others have said the plan does not go far enough.”
The city council’s proposals could see changes including Gaelic translations being made to a selection of Dundee road signs.
The council website and printed council materials could also be changed to include the language, while council staff could receive additional training to give them an understanding of Gaelic.
The plans were well received by many in the audience, who also shared their thoughts on the proposals.
Dundee is home to 48 people 0.03% who speak Gaelic daily. Across the city, 474 people 0.33% said they can speak Gaelic.
Of those, 238 people speak, read and write it while a further 440 understand but do not speak, read or write it.
The city council, along with other local authorities across Scotland, has until next month to produce the plan.
The Gaelic Language Scotland Act 2005 requires all local councils to produce a Gaelic language plan by February 2015.