Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ

Today, I am pleased to announce the publication of the Cymraeg 2050 Annual Report for 2023-24. 

Under Section 78 of the Government of Wales Act, Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ Ministers are required to adopt a Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ Language Strategy and, following each financial year, publish a report on how the strategy was implemented during the financial year in question.

This annual report provides an update on the progress made by the Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖand several of our partners during the 2023-24 financial year in implementing the Cymraeg 2050 strategy. The report reviews the steps taken in response to the Cymraeg 2050 Work Programme for 2021-2026, as well as our Programme for Government. 

The report refers to our efforts during the 2023-24 financial year to achieve the two primary targets:

• Increase the number of Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ speakers to 1 million by 2050.
• Increase the percentage of the population that speaks Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ daily and can speak more than just a few words of Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ from 10% (in 2013-15) to at least 20% by 2050.

The report is structured around the three themes of the Cymraeg 2050 strategy:

1. Increasing the number of Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ speakers.
2. Increasing the use of Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ.
3. Creating favourable conditions – infrastructure and context.

Given the comprehensive nature of this report, it is my intention that next year we will publish a more focused document, highlighting the changes which have occurred over the twelve months following the 2023-24 report. 

It’s important to note that this reporting year, as always, should be considered as part of a long term path for Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ language policy. We therefore organised a technical briefing session for those Members of the Senedd who wished to be part of a wider discussion about the data and trends in this area. Together, we can place the Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ language on a strong footing for the future, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside our partners in Wales and beyond on this important task.