THE number of Welsh-speaking staff in Ceredigion council has dropped, and council chiefs said staff cuts have played a part in the reduction.

Figures from a council report into the authority’s achievement of Welsh language standards said that while over half of the council’s staff can speak Welsh to a good standard, there has been a drop of three per cent in the amount of Welsh speakers compared to 2014.

Carys Lewis Morgan, the council’s Welsh language and equalities officer, said that in 2014, 58 per cent of the council’s staff could speak Welsh to level three or above, with level three considered to be the level required for proficient use of oral Welsh language skills. However, that dropped to 55 per cent in 2015.

She said: “The skills audit results shows, that of the 1,964 staff who have recorded their language skills, it appears that half the staff - 55 per cent - can speak Welsh, that is they have level three or above in Welsh language skills.

"The council considers that level three or above is the required level of proficiency in order to use oral skills in the workplace."

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