PLANS by a Vodafone phone company subsidiary to bring fibreoptic cables across the sea from Ireland to a Pembrokeshire seaside beach village in order to improve broadband coverage have been lodged.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Apollo Submarine Cable Systems limited, through agent APEM Group, seeks permission for the construction of four underground telecom chambers and interconnecting ducts, along with Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) underneath Brandy Brook, Newgale, and the construction of one HDD bore-to-sea outfall.

A supporting statement accompanying the application says the scheme would form the onshore part of a project to bring a fibreoptic cable onshore from Kilmore Quay, Wexford, Ireland to a site at Newsurf Shop car park, Sands Café Car Park and Duke of Edinburgh Inn, Newgale.

It says the majority of the project is subterranean, with very minor above ground works are proposed, which comprise the installation of a manhole cover.

It adds: “To facilitate improved internet connectivity, the applicant is proposing the installation of a fibreoptic telecoms cable (the Beaufort cable) from Kilmore Quay, Wexford, Ireland to Newgale.

“The project is to facilitate the installation of the Beaufort cable, as it comes ashore in Wales and to link it into the wider network, which will be operated by Vodafone’s wholly-owned subsidiary Apollo Cable System Limited in the UK.”

It says the project would see three underground telecom chambers and a 120-metre interconnecting duct, the 87-metre HDD underneath Brandy Brook, launching from the receiver pit located within the Site, along with the construction of one HDD bore-to-sea outfall, in a subtidal area of Newgale bay, of approximately 920 metres, and one underground telecom chamber and interconnecting duct.

Citing a report on digital connectivity, it says 5G geographic coverage has seen improvements but is still relatively low at 57 per cent of Wales’ landmass, with 4G the primary service.

That report says there is a difference in full fibre coverage between urban and rural areas (83 per cent versus 59 per cent) and highlighting a need for further coverage.

On the scheme itself, the statement says short-term noise and disruption to local residents “is anticipated during the construction phase however this will be limited to 57 days,” adding: “The proposed drilling operations are not to be continuous and will be limited to approximately 20 minutes in each hour,” the works in total expected to last 91 days after which land will return to its former use without restrictions.

It goes on to say: “The HDD is specifically designed to mitigate the risk of any shoreward movement of the shingle bank and beach level changes. The use of HDD reduces the likelihood of potential environmental impact on the landscape and seascape.

“The project is not anticipated to interact with Brandy Brook. All drilling works will take place within excavated launch pits and all construction works will be confined to the hardstanding of the car park.”

The application will be considered by Park planners at a later date.

RHUN AP IORWERTH faced questions on safeguarding in Welsh schools, taxation and overseas spending during today’s First Minister’s Questions.

Facing colleagues in the Siambr, the Plaid Cymru leader defended the work of his Welsh Government.

The First Minister clashed once again with opposition leader Dan Thomas over the Welsh Government’s international relations budget.

During plenary on June 2, Mr ap Iorwerth referred to the £9m budget for international relations as “small change”.

Speaking in the Siambr today, Mr Thomas said: “It’s a sum that most people wouldn’t classify as small change and it’s money that Reform believes should be spent on employing newly-qualified nurses at a time when the NHS is on its knees.

“If £9 million to you is small change, surely you can find some small change at the back of the Welsh Government sofa and you can say to the student nurses that you will be able to guarantee them jobs when they graduate.”

The First Minister said his health minister had “already begun” work to ensure students could build careers in the NHS.

He added: “In terms of scales of spending on our overseas office it’s not that much more, is it, than the leader of your party [Nigel Farage] took to secure his own security, or was it to buy a house?”

The First Minister also faced questions on safeguarding arrangements in Welsh schools from Reform MS Andrew Griffin.

Mr Griffin highlighted the case of former headteacher Neil Foden, who was convicted in 2024 of sexually abusing four girls over a four-year period.

A Child Practice Review published in November 2025 found more than 50 opportunities to stop Foden had been missed.

Mr Griffin said: “While the criminal proceedings have been concluded, many questions remain about the actions, decisions and oversight of the Plaid Cymru-controlled Gwynedd Council. Public confidence can only be restored through full transparency and accountability.”

He called on the First Minister to support an independent review of Cyngor Gwynedd’s handling of the case.

Mr ap Iorwerth responded: “Everyone was appalled, of course, by the actions of Neil Foden, for which he is now being punished. And we remember the bravery of all those who came forward and spoke and assured that conviction.

“We have to now act on what came out of the child practice review. I was minded to pursue the avenue of a further inquiry, but we have to be guided by the views of the independent chair of that report, who advised that a further inquiry just would not add value in this space.

“What we need to do is to continue to fight for justice for these young people, and future young people, through the actions that we take in fostering a strong safeguarding culture, embedding accountability at every level, and now ensuring children’s voices shape decision making in future.”

Plaid Cymru’s Beca Brown asked what action the government would take to ensure lessons from the “Our Bravery Brought Justice” and “Clywch” reports were fully learned.

The First Minister said the government was “taking every possible step” to reduce the risk of similar cases happening again, including building a culture in which children and staff feel able to speak up.

Welsh Labour’s education and children’s spokesperson, Lynne Neagle, noted that the previous Labour administration had accepted every recommendation of the Child Practice Review and pressed the First Minister on whether his government would do the same.

Mr ap Iorwerth said: “We want to continue with and build on the work that had previously been done. Because we remind ourselves of the title of that report: ‘Our bravery brought justice’.

“Only part of the justice has been brought so far – the justice in ensuring that the perpetrator was found guilty and was imprisoned. The real justice is in making sure that we have the measures in place to stop this happening again.”

Welsh Conservative MS Sam Rowlands also asked whether the government would support a ban on smartphones in Welsh schools.

The First Minister said the government was “determined” to protect children and their education from the impact of mobile phones in schools.

Reform MS Benjamin Mckenna asked what action the Welsh Government would take to minimise the tax burden in Wales.

He asked the First Minister to rule out introducing or increasing taxes during the current Senedd term.

Mr Mckenna said: “The First Minister has said previously that his government will not raise income tax.

“Previous governments in Wales have made similar commitments, but we still have seen taxes risen through new mechanisms, such as the tourism levy.

“Can the First Minister today confirm that his government will not be raising any taxes, new or existing, in Wales during this term?”

Mr ap Iorwerth reiterated there would be “no change to rates of income tax”.

He said: “We don’t have the tools to set a taxation system that works for Wales. I’ll say this: I want to bring in further taxation in Wales through a thriving economy and through businesses that flourish.

“But let me make it clear: taxation is a fundamental part of our democratic and governmental structures. What we should seek always, be that for individuals or for businesses, is fair taxation.”

Welsh Conservative finance spokesperson Peter Fox urged the government to review land transaction tax for first-time buyers and business rates. The First Minister said both would be reviewed.

Reform MS John Clark called for the tourism levy to be scrapped, describing it as “one of the biggest worries for businesses in [his] constituency”.

The First Minister defended the policy, saying: “We live in a beautiful country. We have facilities that lend themselves to tourism. I want to use the tourism levy in a way that improves the tourism offer.”

He added the levy could also help communities manage the impact of tourism while supporting the industry.

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds described calls for tax cuts as “absolutely astonishing” and “completely reckless” at a time when public services are under pressure.

She said: “Let us also not forget that many of those calling for tax cuts were also among the strongest advocates of Brexit.

“Wales continues to pay the price of that decision, and recent analysis suggests that Brexit is costing the Treasury £90 billion every year, and Wales £3 billion every year, losing that revenue.

“So, would you agree with me, Prif Weinidog, that we need well-funded public services and that tax cuts should not be happening?”

The First Minister responded: “I certainly agree with the member about the damage of Reform policies, and Brexit is one of those, and remember that reducing income tax by 1p would have cost £299 million. Now, that would be to the detriment of public services in Wales and the people we are here to serve.

“I again reiterate that my belief is in a fair taxation system that’s also a realistic taxation system, that recognises the need to have not just well-funded, but well-run, public services. And this government is all about making sure that our public services are well run and that that is done within our means too.”

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT is to begin detailed work on options for a third Menai crossing, while ruling out a return to the controversial M4 Black Route around Newport.

Deputy Transport Minister Mark Hooper MS told the Senedd that repeated closures of the Menai Suspension Bridge had exposed wider problems with the resilience of Wales’ transport network.

The bridge, which is around 200 years old, has been hit by closures after drivers ignored a 7.5-tonne weight limit. Ministers say each breach requires precautionary inspections, causing further disruption.

Works to stabilise and preserve the bridge, including repairs to crossbeams, bolts and other structural components, are expected to continue until spring 2027.

Mr Hooper said the Welsh Government was working with North Wales Police and the DVSA on stronger enforcement.

Third crossing back on table

The minister said the Menai crossings must be treated as one system, with Britannia Bridge carrying most traffic but vulnerable to high winds, while the Menai Suspension Bridge has lower capacity and ongoing maintenance needs.

He confirmed that work would now begin on “detailed options” for a third Menai crossing, building on previous studies.

The move marks a significant shift after earlier plans for a third crossing were scrapped following the Welsh Government’s roads review.

M4 plan due in autumn

Mr Hooper also confirmed a new short programme of work on the M4 corridor around Newport, one of Wales’ busiest and most congested roads.

However, he said the Government did not believe the previously proposed Black Route was “a credible option”.

Instead, ministers will look at road, rail and bus measures, including public transport alternatives, targeted improvements to the existing road network, and better links between strategic and local transport.

The minister said he would report back to the Senedd in early autumn with the Government’s intended way forward.

He said both the Menai crossings and the M4 showed the challenge of managing ageing infrastructure under increasing demand.