AMBITIOUS plans to almost double the number of people able to speak Welsh have been unveiled.

According to the 2011 census 562,000 people in Wales can speak Welsh, 19 per cent of the country’s total population.

But now the Welsh Government has revealed plans to increase this to one million by 2050.

Although the one million target has been on the cards for some time, the new strategy due to be announced today, Tuesday, sets out how the Welsh Government plans to meet this goal.

Plans include increasing Welsh-language teaching across the board, from nursery to post-16 education, reviewing legislation supporting the language and leading by example by promoting use of the Welsh within the Welsh Government workforce.

The Welsh Government has also said it will work to develop “favourable conditions” for the language by supporting economic development across the country, increasing the use of it online and developing a new programme to increase understanding of bilingualism.

The strategy, dubbed Cymraeg 2050, also includes plans to double the number of people who are able to use more than just a few words of Welsh from to 20 per cent.

Announcing the plan, first minister Carwyn Jones, said: “Welsh is one of our treasures, and is part of what defines us as a nation, whether we speak the language or not.

“Reaching a million speakers is a deliberately ambitious target to so that the Welsh language thrives for future generations.

“There are challenges ahead, but we can undoubtedly face those in the knowledge that we are building from a position of strength.”

He added, for the strategy to succeed, the whole nation must “take ownership” of the language.

“Politicians can’t impose that, but politicians can lead,” he said.

“By raising our expectations and adopting an ambitious vision, we have the potential to change the future outlook for the language.”

Blaenau Gwent AM and Welsh language minister Alun Davies said: “I am confident it will put us on the right path towards facilitating an increase not only in the number of speakers but also in the use of the language within our communities, workplaces and families.

“We know that language policy needs to be rooted in consensus and democratic strength.

“Together, by renewing our energy, adapting to an ever changing landscape, we can enable the Welsh language to grow, a living language for all that unites us as a nation.”

To view the strategy, which will be formally unveiled at 11am today, visit gov.wales