Episode 4

Tha Ceann a Tuath na Cuimrigh ga mheas mar chridhe na Cuimris agus cultar nan Cuimreach. Ann an sin tha Gwynedd, sgìre a th' air a bhogadh ann an eachdraidh agus a tha an-diugh le coimhearsnachdan a th' air crìonadh 's a tha an cunnart a dhol à bith. Tha seo air a' cheangal gu ìre mhòr ris an àireamh àrd de dhàrna dachaighean agus de thaighean a thathas a' ceannach san àite airson a chur air mhàl.

Air Rubha Llyn tha 46% de thaighean ann am baile beag Abersoch nan dàrna dachaighean (grunn dhiubh nan taighean air mhàl a dh'aona-ghnothaich air adhbharan coimeirsealta) agus feadhainn eile nam flataichean spaideil le cuid dhuibh gan reic airson còrr air millean not. 'S e baile eireachdail a th' ann an Abersoch le seallaidhean àlainn an cois na mara agus ri taobh na tràghad - chan eil e doirbh fhaicinn dè tha tàladh na mìltean ann gach bliadhna. Ach, 's e rud eile a th' ann a bhith a' toirt orra fuireach làn-thìde sa choimhearsnachd far a bheil meall dhiubh a' ceannach dàrna dachaigh neo dachaighean samhraidh. Is e prìs nan taighean a tha a' cur bacadh air feadhainn a tha a' fuireach san àite làn-ùine bho bhith a' ceannach thaighean dhaibh pèin agus tha an t-iarrtas airson taighean a' cur phrìsean an-àirde.

Dhùin Bun-sgoil Abersoch an-uiridh ri linn an àireamh ìosal de chloinn. Air balaichean-fiodha na sgoile chithear làraich meòir na cloinne mu dheireadh a chaidh oideachadh innte, samhla air coimhearsnachd a bha uaireigin làidir 's tha a-nise air crìonadh 's a tha a' dol à bith.

Tha Comann a' Chànain sa Chuimrigh draghail gu bheil a bhith a' dùnadh na sgoile na bhuille-bàis dhan choimhearsnachd agus na chall dhan Chuimris san sgìre. Tha iadsan ag iarraidh air Riaghaltas na Cuimrigh agus a' chomhairle ionadail ceumannan a bharrachd a ghabhail gus coimhearsnachdan mar seo a dhìon bhon t-sruth de dhàrna dachaighean 's dachaighean samhraidh.

Anns na mìosan mu dheireadh tha Riaghaltas na Cuimrigh air grunn phoileasaidhean fhoillseachadh tro reachdas ann an siostam nan cìsean, am measg eile, ann an oidhirp smachd fhaighinn air suidheachadh nan dàrna dachaighean. Tha plana radaigeach agus dàna an riaghaltais a' ciallachadh gum faodadh, am measg eile, a' chìs chomhairle àrdachadh gu 300% do dhàrna dachaighean agus gum feumadh daoine a bhith annta airson co­-dhiù dàrna leth dhen bhliadhna gus nach urrainn dhan fheadhainn leis a bheil iad a radh, tro uireasbhaidh san lagh, gur e gnìomhachas beag a th' aca agus nach fheum iad a' chis chomhairle neo cìs sam bith a phàigheadh air an dàrna dachaigh aca tro shiostam nan reataichean-gnòthachais.

Gwynedd in North Wales is a place that is steeped in Welsh history and one of the heartlands of the Welsh language and culture. However, communities there are at risk due to having one of the greatest concentrations of second homes and holiday lets in Wales.

On the Llyn Peninsula a reported 46% of the housing stock in the seaside village of Abersoch is second homes (including commercial holiday lets) and luxury flats there have been selling for over £1 million, pricing locals out of the market and forcing up prices. Abersoch with its beachside location is continually listed as an area of prime Welsh real estate due to the lack of houses on the market in the area and the stunning sea views that come with many of the properties.

The local primary school recently closed due to a declining roll and on its exterior walls there can still be seen the haunting handprints of the last children to spend their formative years at Abersoch School.

The Welsh Language Society fear that the school's closure could herald the death-knell for the community and they lament the loss of the Welsh language in the area. They are calling on the local council and the Welsh Government to take further steps to stem the tide of second homes and holiday lets across Wales.

Recently the Welsh Government announced a raft of changes to property law, taxation and the planning system to help regulate this area. The radical but controversial steps being taken by the Welsh Government include allowing councils to levy a 300% increase in council tax on second homes as well as changing occupancy rules for such properties that stop owners using the non-domestic rates laws to avoid any tax. The Senedd have also made changes to the Land Transaction Tax, Wales' version of stamp-duty to help communities that are struggling with holiday homes and second lets.

Tha Seirbheis Slàinte Nàiseanta Phortagail (an SNS, mar a th' aca air san dùthaich) an-dràsta fo uallach. Tha mòran luchd-obrach a' fàgail na seirbheis gus obair fhaighinn san roinn phrìobhaidich, ri linn tuarastail ìseal, nach eil air àrdachadh ann an grunn bhliadhnachan, agus cuid a' faireachdainn nach eil luach gu leòr ga chur san obair a tha iad a' dèanamh. Tha luchd-obrach cuideachd a' faicinn gu bheil suidheachaidhean-obrach nas fheàrr san roinn phrìobhaidich, agus uairean-obrach nas giorra. Tha aonaidhean ag ràdh gu feum fada bharrachd luchd-obrach a bhith air am fastadh dhan SNS, agus gu bheil feum air maoineachadh a bharrachd gus uidheamachd ùr a cheannach.

Tha seirbheisean màthaireil cuideachd air a bhith fon phrosbaig am-bliadhna, ri linn grunn sgainnealan a thug air Ministear Slàinte na dùthcha a dreuchd fhàgail as t-samhradh.

An t-seachdain sa air Eòrpa, tha Anndra MacFhionghain ann an Lisbon a' bruidhinn riuthasan air a bheil seo a' toirt buaidh agus ri daoine a tha airson atharrachadh fhaicinn, gus am bi seirbheis slàinte aig àrd ìre ri fhaighinn dhan h-uile duine.

The Portuguese National Health Service (the SNS, as it is known in Portugal) is currently under great strain. Many staff are leaving to work in the private sector due to low wages which have stagnated over recent years, and feeling that the work they do is undervalued. Staff also see that working in the private sector offers better working conditions, and shorter working hours. Workers' unions say many more staff need to be employed into the SNS, and more funding is needed to buy new equipment.

Maternal health-care has also been a focus of attention this year, due to a series of crises which contriubted to the resignation of the country's Health Minister in the summer.

This week on Eòrpa, Andrew MacKinnon is in Lisbon speaking to those directly affected by this crisis in health care and to those who want to see a change in the system, so that a quality public service is available to all.