Welsh communities - setting a challenge to the Government

Ten months since the Welsh Communities Commission's report was published, the Welsh Government is expected to publish a response to the recommendations on the Urdd Eisteddfod Field in Margam, on Thursday, 29 May - and Cymdeithas yr Iaith has set them a challenge.

The Association will mark the Government's success on the basis of receiving recommendations and acting on them quickly, in the same way that pupils and students who will be on the field will be marked on their educational success. There is then a final score to reflect the quality of the Government's homework.

Dr Jeff Smith, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s Sustainable Communities Group, said:

"Considering the crisis facing our communities and the Welsh language, the Welsh Government needs to act firmly and quickly. We look forward to seeing the Welsh Government adopt the recommendations and present detailed plans to implement them on 29 May, and assume that they have been working on a plan to implement the recommendations over the last 10 months.

"If the Welsh Government succeeds in that regard, including the key step of establishing areas of higher intensity linguistic significance, we will be very happy to give them a high score."

The Commission, made up of experts from many fields and backgrounds, spent two years investigating in depth the issues that affect the viability of communities where over 40% of the population are Welsh speakers to offer practical solutions. Ultimately, 57 recommendations were presented to the Welsh Government in the main document, with a further 14 recommendations in the area of ​​housing and planning in an additional document.

Dr Jeff Smith added:

"The Government's lack of action has not matched the crisis facing our communities. Given its size and importance, our communities cannot wait any longer - we need to act now."