Following a series of blows to Welsh-language funding, Dyfodol i’r Iaith are calling for more transparency over the cuts. In the past few weeks it has been announced that S4C would be facing cutbacks; that funding for the promotion of the Welsh language is to be reduced; and last week, we learnt of further significant cuts to the Welsh Books Council’s budget. Looking at the overall picture, the cumulative effect on the Welsh language and its culture is critical.

Dyfodol yr Iaith claims that the Welsh Government, according to its own figures is set to receive more money, not less, annually from London and that these cuts are unnecessary.

The situation presented by the Welsh Government to justify these cuts is therefore less than honest. While the Government claims they will receive less money, this is only justified on the basis of inflation: a rise of 3.6% is claimed, when, in reality, the level is much lower, being closer to 1%.

Elinor Jones, Dyfodol i’r Iaith’s President said: “The recent cuts are likely to have a highly detrimental effect on Welsh culture. The budget as it stands is pitifully low; a situation which shows a lack of respect towards the Welsh language, and one which means that any cutbacks would have an inordinate effect. The future of our language and culture is too weighty a mater to be pushed aside and buried with equivocal words.”

“ Dyfodol has already called for an emergency meeting with the First Minister, and we will be pressing further for this in the wake of these latest developments.”

Dyfodol i’r Iaith has called for an emergency meeting with the First Minister, Carwyn Jones, to explain the Government’s intention to cut spending on the Welsh language. This call comes in wake of the Government’s draft budget, which outlines the intention to cut £1.6 million (19%) from the Welsh language budget.

Although the Government has by now confirmed that additional funding will be available for Welsh in the community, what little spending there is on the Welsh language is still set to plunge.

According to Dyfodol, this cut totally undermines the Government’s commitment to the Welsh language, as this money has been earmarked for initiatives and projects which make a real difference to the language. Dyfodol i’r Iaith wishes to see an increase in funding to support new Welsh speakers of all ages to use the Welsh language within the very areas that are essential to its future; the home, the community, shops, businesses and social life.

The Government has managed to increase spending in several areas, but not on the Welsh language.

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol’s Chair said, “We can never reach the goal of a bilingual Wales without the Government’s enthusiastic support. We need far-reaching programmes to promote the use of the language and to increase the number of Welsh speakers. If we do not safeguard this essential element, any enforcement measures, such as the language standards, will become increasingly irrelevant.”

“We will be pushing for a meeting with the First Minister as soon as possible to secure a full explanation of the situation and to emphasise the importance of this funding to the growth of the Welsh language.”