Monthly Archives: July 2017

CALL TO POSTPONE SCHOOLS’ FUNDING IN LIGHT OF THREAT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF WELSH LANGUAGE EDUCATION

Reply

The development of Welsh language education will be halted until 2024, leaving the Welsh Government with no hope of reaching its target of having 30% of pupils in Welsh language education by 2030. This is Dyfdol i’r Iaith fear as Local Authorities present their funding applications by the end of July.

Funding applications for the development of schools should be submitted soon, with authorities presenting their applications by the end of July, for decision by the autumn. This funding is for the second round of the 21st Century Schools programme, which will allocate money for the development of schools from 2019-2024. £600 million is available from the Government, and local authorities are expected to match this sum.

Dyfodol i’r Iaith is concerned that this funding will be allocated before many of the local authorities’ Welsh Language Education Plans have been accepted by the Welsh Government. Another cause for concern is that this does not allow the local authorities time to consider the implications of the Government’s Welsh Language Strategy, which was published a week ago,

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol i’r Iaith’s Chair, said, “There is reason to fear that there has been a lack of co-ordination between Government departments. It seems clear to us that local authorities are making plans without their Welsh Language Plans being accepted, and, clearly, without the opportunity to consider the Government’s Welsh Language Strategy.”

“Thus, funding applications will be submitted without priority being given to Welsh language education. In the first round 21st Century Schools funding, some councils spent next to nothing on Welsh language education. This situation could recur again.”

“We call on the Government to delay the second round of the 21st Century Schools     funding process, and stress that this process be linked to the authorities’ Welsh Education Plans and the Government’s Welsh Language Scheme.”

REASONS FOR REJECTING THE ADOPTION OF THE LOCAL JOINT DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR GWYNEDD AND MÔN

Reply

In partnership with the following language organisations; Cylch yr Iaith, Canolfan Hanes Uwchgwyrfai and Cymdeithas yr Iaith,  Dyfodol i’r Iaith is part of the Gwynedd and Môn Housing and Planning Campaign Committee. This Committee was established to challenge and oppose the Local Development Plan, which is about to be decided upon by both authorities.

If you are also concerned about the impact this Plan will have on the Welsh language, then we would ask you to write to your county Councillor, and demostrate your objection by joining the gathering arranged outside the Gwynedd Council Offices in Caernarfon at 1.15 on 28/07, and Cyngor Môn’s offices, Llangefni ar 9.15 on 31/07.

Our objections to Plan can be summarised thus:.

  • TOO MANY HOUSES 

The Plan states that the number of houses; 7,902 between the two authorities, provides for population growth. This growth is based upon in-migration, and in preparing for this, promotes it. The process was based upon allocating county totals for Gwynedd and Môn, and distributing these to communities. This is totally unacceptible. The totals should have been based upon supplying the local needs of each of the communities.

 

  • FLAWED LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT

In contrast to assessements of other aspects of the Plan, the Joint Planning Policy Unit did not commission an independent assessment of its language sustainability. This work was undertaken by the Unit itself, despite its admission that it had no expertise in this area. The language organisations decided to commission an independent assessment from the language consultancy, Hanfod. This study concluded that the Plan proposed too many houses, and that as a result, the situation of the Welsh language would be weakened. The independent assessment was ignored by by the Unit.

 

  • FLAWED LANGUAGE POLICY

The Plan’s Strategic Policy 1 (The Welsh Language and Culture) does not support the Welsh language. The policy allows for damaging developments if it is possible to lessen the damage to some extent by ameliorative measures. Siân Gwenllian AM and Llyr Huws Gruffydd AM have stated that this policy is unacceptable.

 

  • FLAWED SURVEY

As part of their evidence base for the Plan, both local authorities conducted the ‘Gwynedd and Ynys Môn Housing and Language Survey’ between September and November 2013, but the statistician Hywel Jones (Statiaith) demonstrated that the methodology adopted was seriously flawed. His assessment of the survey concluded that it was statistically invalid and its conclusions unreliable.

 

  • PERCENTAGE OF AFFORADLE HOUSING TOO LOW

The percentage of affordable housing within a development is set as low as 10%. Evidence of need shows that this percentage should be much higher. This policy means that open market housing will constitute 90% of these housing developments.

 

  • NUMBER OF LOCAL HOUSING MARKET POLICY COMMUNITIES TOO LOW

Only in a very limited number of communities will the policy of limiting housing to local people be implemented.

 

  • FEWER AREAS ALLOCATED CLUSTERS

Fewer small villages and rural areas will be allocated clusters, leading to a low number of houses. This will negate the opportunity for many communities to ensure their sustainablity and natural growth by supplying local need.

 

  • NO GRADUAL DEVELOPMENTS

It will not be possible to impose conditions upon developers to build gradually; that is, to build a specific number of houses at a time, according to an agreed timetable.

 

 

COOPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL AUTHORIES IS ESSENTIAL TO ATTAIN THE LANGUAGE STRATEGY TARGETS

Reply

Dyfodol i’r Iaith welcomes the Government’s aim of  increasing Welsh medium education.  Ensuring that 40% of Wales’ pupils are in Welsh medium education by 2050 will be a huge gain for the language and the people of Wales, says the lobby group.

Dyfodol i’r Iaith warns, however, that the Government needs to deal successfully with local authorities.  Heini Gruffudd, chair of Dyfodol i’r Iaith, said

“The Government has in the past set targets for the growth of Welsh medium education, but has failed to achieve these.  This is because the Government had failed to win over local authorities, especially in south and east Wales.  The Government now needs to show how it will ensure that local authorities get the support and finance to attain these ambitious targets.

“Some authorities, such as Gwynedd and others in west Wales have made Welsh medium education a priority.  The Government needs to convince local authorties in all parts of Wales that Welsh medium education should be a priority for the next thirty years.  Unless this occurs, the strategy will fail.”