Carmarthenshire Council says the most qualified person will be appointed

Carmarthen East and Dinefwr AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas believes the �100,000-a-year post should go to a Welsh speaker.

But adverts for the post do not state applicants need to be bi-lingual and the council said the most qualified person would get the job.

Similar controversy five years ago saw the authority back down when it tried to appoint a non-Welsh-speaker.

We welcome applications from all individuals who feel they have the right skills Wyn Evans, councillor

Mr Thomas said the county had the highest number of Welsh-speakers in Wales and with plans to close or merge up to 32 small schools a Welsh-speaker was needed.

"Education in Carmarthenshire in particular is likely to face a number of turbulent changes as a result of the new school modernisation plan," he said.

"It is essential that the person responsible for education in the county has a clear understanding of the linguistic reality of the area.

"Only a bilingual candidate will be able to undertake the responsibilities of this role."

The current director of education and life-long learning, Welsh-speaker Alun Davies, is retiring next year.

Confidence vote

The authority said it was creating a new post that would also include responsibility for children and family services in Carmarthenshire.

Deputy leader and Welsh language executive board member Wyn Evans said the adverts complied with its Welsh language scheme.

"We welcome applications from all individuals who feel they have the right skills to enable the authority to lead and deliver this exciting agenda," said councillor Evans.

"This director post is hugely challenging and it is for this very reason that we need to attract and appoint the best possible person for the job."

Council leader Meryl Gravell faced a vote of no confidence when a non-Welsh speaker was initially selected for the education director's post in 2000.