DYFODOL’S FIRST DEMAND FOR THE NEW SENEDD: A DEDICATED MINISTER FOR THE WELSH LANGUAGE

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Following the results of last week’s election, Dyfodol i’r Iaith calls upon the new Senedd to ensure, as soon as possible, a dedicated Minister for the Welsh language.

Currently, as in the past, whoever is responsible for the Welsh language at ministerial level is expected to share this work with other responsibilities. In the case of Carwyn Jones, he balanced responsibility for the language with the work of being First Minister. We also saw last Autumn mental health and wellbeing matters being added to the Welsh language as part of Eluned Morgan’s remit.

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol’s Chair commented:

“We can’t believe it possible, with the best will in the world, for any Minister to do justice to the Welsh language without a clear agenda to concentrate fully on the needs of the language. Our first demand for the new Senedd, therefore, is to appoint a Minister who is solely dedicated to the Welsh language.

Wales and its language faces a challenging period in the wake of Covid 19, and it is now essential that effective structures be put in place to steer the language towards a flourishing future.

We therefore repeat our call for a National Authority to co-ordinate language planning in Wales and a Welsh Language Minister who is able to dedicate his or her full attention to the regeneration of the language.

DYFODOL CRITICISES THE GOVERNMENT’S “FEEBLE” LANGUAGE ACTION PLAN

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Dyfodol i’r Iaith has expressed its dismay at the Welsh Government’s Welsh Language Action Plan for the period 2021-22. Since the Government’s stated aim is to ensure a million Welsh speakers and increase its usage, the organisation believes that this document is totally inadequate: far too short on the essential requirements of vision, detail and finance. In the words of Dyfodol’s Chair, Heini Gruffudd:

“This is an Action Plan that shirks its responsibilities and reveals a woeful lack of ambition. The intention to “continue” working is stated repeatedly, with little explanation of how this will produce key outcomes such as transmitting the language within the home environment or increasing the use of Welsh within the community and the workplace.

In the same way, the response to the needs of Welsh-medium education is disappointing: the new Welsh in Education Strategic Plans have been postponed for another year and there is a failure to recognize the post-Covid opportunity to develop the education sector and recruit and train more Welsh-medium teachers.

The situation of the Welsh language needs more commitment than this: more strategic vison and positive actions. Indeed, it could be argued that this feeble document is an insult to all who support the language.”

 

DYFODOL CHALLENGES THE LATEST PLAN TO DEVELOP YET ANOTHER HOLIDAY VILLAGE

Reply

Dyfodol i’r Iaith has expressed grave reservations about another plan to develop a substantial holiday village in the north west. The organisation believes that the new proposal earmarked for the old Octel site near Amlwch constitutes not only a threat to the Welsh language, but also to the viability and diversity of the local economy.

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol’s Chair said:

“We would ask Ynys Môn Council to be very wary of this application and seriously consider the priorities of the community and the Welsh language. The main problem regarding such developments, as we see it, is the lack of benefit they bring to the local community.

Such tourism ventures should be in local hands and the profits diversified to help create a robust and varied local economy. If the sector is carefully developed, then ultimately that which we oppose – an economy that is over-dependent on tourism – can be avoided.

Unfortunately this plan, which syphons profit away from the community,would appear to be culturally harmful and exploitative of the wider local economy. “