"MORE needs to be done" to improve the availability of Welsh-language education, as well as its use, Blaenau Gwent AM Alun Davies has said.

The Labour AM was speaking in the Senedd earlier today, Tuesday, in his capacity as the Welsh Government's minister for the Welsh language and lifelong learning.

He was speaking after a review into work by local authorities towards the Welsh Government's goal of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050 found clearer guidelines were needed to ensure all organisations involved were working together in the most effective way.

"Although we have begun our journey to implement the changes necessary to grow Welsh-medium education, I am in no doubt that more needs to be done," he said.

"We must legislate to strengthen and we must look in greater detail at the existing structures, the role of the consortia and how we develop a clear and effective way of identifying the demand for Welsh-medium education."

Mr Davies added he believed it was especially key to ensure the youngest children experienced the language.

"What I’d hope we’d be able to do is to ensure that all our children, from the very youngest age, have experience of listening and hearing and learning to speak the Welsh language, whether they go on to a formal education in Welsh or in English," he said.

He also backed the report's recommendation that a board overseeing Welsh-language education should be established, and said he was keen all organisations involved in teaching were involved.

"I have said many times that the Welsh Government can’t do this in isolation," he said. "Everybody who has a role in educating our young people must be a part of this journey."

He added parents and the wider community also had a key role in encouraging youngsters to use the language.

"I think that people right across the country are very, very positive about seeing more Welsh and allowing the language of instruction to enable parents and others to learn the language themselves," he said.

The Welsh Conservatives' education spokesman Darren Millar also said he was favour of working to increase use of the language.

"We all know that we’re not going to achieve the ambitious target of securing one million Welsh speakers here in Wales without actually growing the number of young people and children in Welsh-medium education," he said.

"So, absolutely, we need to drive that ambition up."