Plaid Call for National Legislation on Post 16 School Transport

Action Needed following NPT controversy

Dr Dai Lloyd, Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales West has slammed Labour run Neath Port Talbot Council over their proposals to increase post 16 education transport fees from £100 to £390. The planned increase will mainly affect those students attending sixth form in Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera and St Joseph’s Catholic School & Sixth Form in Port Talbot.

Speaking on the issue, Dr Lloyd stated;

“Neath Port Talbot Council need to seriously re-consider these proposals. To increase fees from £100 to £390 is frankly shameful. Such an increase will price many families in the county out of both Welsh medium and Catholic education.

Neath Port Talbot Council will know that these plans will seriously hinder the Welsh Government’s target of reaching a million Welsh speakers by 2050.”

Dr Lloyd called on the Welsh Government to intervene and introduce new legislation to ensure there are no future cases where students are priced out of Welsh medium sixth form education.

“The ineptitude of Neath Port Talbot and their hostility towards Welsh medium education must be held up as an example of what not to do for all other local authorities in Wales. If Labour are serious about reaching a million Welsh speakers, then they cannot allow the poorest in society to be left out

Welsh Government must now bring in legislation which will ensure every student who wishes to study through the medium of Welsh is able to do so regardless of their financial position.