The issue of Gaelic road signs on the country’s roads can, for some unknown reason, illicit all sorts of irrational responses.

To some, bizarrely, they are an aberration that have no place on main roads, while others believe they are an intrinsic part of Scotland’s identity and, as such, there should be even more of them, preferably with English names removed.

Personally, I lean much more towards the latter than the former, with the sight of the  language on road signs in traditional Gaelic-speaking areas a gentle reminder why we need to keep it alive. 

However, the language is struggling to remain relevant in today’s society, despite millions of pounds being spent trying to save it.

And save it we must, as Gaelic is a vitally important part of Scotland’s heritage and everything that can be done to preserve it should be done.

But ministers seem to have gone a bit hair brained in those attempts after calling for national broadcasting to be devolved to Scotland.

They have warned that years of under-investment in Gaelic broadcasting are having repercussions for the status and wellbeing of the nation's indigenous language.

In a briefing seen by the UK Government, SNP ministers said BBC Alba and the wider Gaelic media sector needed a fairer, more sustainable funding settlement warning that the current system fails to provide the support and recognition afforded to comparable services elsewhere in the UK.

The Government said the consequences of under-investment went beyond the television channel itself, affecting the wider effort to safeguard and promote the language, while calling for explicit recognition of Gaelic broadcasting in the next BBC Charter.

It has also called for broadcasting responsibility to be devolved to Scotland, with the Scottish Parliament taking a stronger role in oversight.

It says that current arrangements provided limited scrutiny of MG Alba, which has run BBC Alba since its launch 18........

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