Plan to halt Welsh decline in language's heartlands
Under Welsh government plans, there will be better access to education in Welsh and more guidance on the language across a range of areas, including housing, the economy, community development and education.
The support, targeted at areas with high numbers of Welsh speakers, aims to strengthen the language in its heartlands in counties such as Anglesey, Gwynedd, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.
Welsh Language Secretary Mark Drakeford said the government would "respond to the specific needs of Welsh-speaking communities".
Gwynedd has an estimated 93,600 Welsh speakers and Carmarthenshire has 93,300, according to the Welsh government's annual survey.
Plans come after the recommendations of a Welsh government commission in 2022 to halt the decline of Welsh speakers and its report made 60 suggestions to support the language in its traditional "heartlands".
Teacher inspires Welsh learning in school with 23 languages
New five-year plan to meet Welsh language target
Most lessons in English to be phased out in Welsh county
Earlier this year, Welsh government statistics indicated the percentage of people able to speak Welsh was the lowest recorded for more than eight years, causing some to question the target of creating one million Welsh speakers by 2050.
Drakeford will make the announcement at the Urdd Eisteddfod at Margam Park, Neath Port Talbot later.
The Welsh government said it would co-ordinate with local authorities and partners to discuss and implement the recommendations.
Drakeford said accepting the commission's recommendations could "strengthen Welsh in our communities".
The commission released a second report in February recommending that the effect on the Welsh language should be considered during planning applications, which was met with some concern from builders who said this could increase bureaucracy and lead to delays in building "much-needed" housing.
Elin Haf Gruffudd Jones, chairwoman of the Welsh Communities Commission, called the announcement a "historical turning point in public policy" but said it did not undermine how important the language was "across the whole of Wales".
Welsh speakers use TikTok to teach the language
Number of Welsh-speakers lowest in eight years
Report calls for radical shift to protect Welsh
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
4 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Welsh Voters Eye Reform as ‘Useless' Labour's Appeal Diminishes
Business Voters in Wales are peeling away from Labour in favor of minor parties, a trend that threatens to turn Nigel Farage's Reform UK into the biggest party in the Welsh Senedd next year.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Landlines to be reconnected after tractor fire
Work to restore broadband and landline services affected by a fire that broke out in a tractor is to begin next week. The blaze began in a tractor on the A484 near Llangeler, Carmarthenshire, on 18 July, before spreading to other vehicles and a house. Firefighters from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were on scene for more than three hours. Openreach said "complex" repair work would begin on Tuesday, adding: "We understand how frustrating this is and the impact it's having, so we really appreciate everyone's patience and understanding while we carry out the repairs." Tractor, house and hay bales wrecked in blaze It added its network was damaged in the fire, with overhead cables affected and broadband and landline services disrupted for some customers in the area. It said it was working closely with the council and partners to resolve the issue. "The work is complex and time-consuming, involving both fibre and copper cables, which require different specialist teams," Openreach added. Any customers experiencing issues have been asked to contact their service provider for support. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was believed to have started in a tractor but spread to a load of hay bales that were under tow. It also spread to two other vehicles, along with a nearby house, where it was confined to the kitchen and attic.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Business Secretary dismisses idea of ‘magic wealth tax' as ‘daft'
The Business Secretary has said the idea of a 'magic wealth tax' to raise funds is 'daft' amid speculation that the Chancellor could turn to such a measure to plug holes in the public finances. The Government's U-turns over welfare reform and winter fuel payments have left the Chancellor with a multibillion-pound black hole to fill, fuelling speculation she might target the assets of the wealthy in the next budget. Rachel Reeves has not ruled out the possibility of a new wealth tax but has been eager to highlight that she will stick to her commitment not to hike tax for 'working people'. Some in the Labour Party, including former leader Lord Neil Kinnock and Wales's First Minister Baroness Eluned Morgan, have called for a wealth tax. However, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds dismissed the idea. 'This Labour Government has increased taxes on wealth as opposed to income – the taxes on private jets, private schools, changes through inheritance tax, capital gains tax,' he told GB News. 'But the idea there's a magic wealth tax, some sort of levy… that doesn't exist anywhere in the world. 'Switzerland has a levy but they don't have capital gains or inheritance tax. 'There's no kind of magic (tax). We're not going to do anything daft like that. 'And I say to people: 'Be serious about this.' The idea you can just levy everyone… What if your wealth was not in your bank account, (what if it was) in fine wine or art? 'How would we tax that? This is why this doesn't exist.'
