A piece of disused land in Cardiff city centre is being touted as a possible location for a new Welsh language secondary school. Former Cardiff council leader Huw Thomas, now a Senedd member, said he had discussed the use of a piece of land at Callaghan Square with former finance minister Mark Drakeford.
Labour's Mr Thomas, who represents Caerdydd Penarth, said he had asked former finance minister Mark Drakeford about how a fourth Welsh-medium secondary school can be opened in the capital.
There has been a campaign in the south of the city for a new high school. Currently, pupils in the south of the city - areas like Butetown and Grangetown - have to travel. The city council has been carrying out an engagement exercise with residents.
In the Senedd, as Plaid's new education minister Anna Brychan faced her first question session, Mr Thomas asked her about the proposed site.
"It was a cause of pride for me, during my time as leader of Cardiff council, to deliver significant growth in Welsh-medium education in the capital city. Now, the city is considering how a fourth Welsh-medium secondary school can be opened."
Earlier this year, I received a positive response from the minister for finance at the time, Mark Drakeford, to my request asking the Welsh Government to provide the land that it owns on Callaghan Square to Cardiff Council as a possible site for this new school. Can I have confirmation today from you that that proposal still stands under this new government?
The education minister, who represents the same constituency as Mr Thomas, which is where this site also falls, replied: "I'm aware that I need to be very careful in terms of making statements on issues relating to allocating school places, just in case those are issues that ministers have to comment on in due course."
"So, rather than committing a breach in my first ever oral statement, could I please ask him for patience so that I can check to what extent I can go into detail on the question that he raised around a fourth Welsh-medium school in Cardiff?"
In the days since she was elected and before being made education minister she had voiced her support for a new high school in the south.
The land, on the south of Callaghan Square, is a five acre site which was bought by Welsh Government for £7.2m - excluding professional fees and stamp duty - in 2013.
Work at Callaghan Square is beginning this week for the new tram-train system for the city, with drivers being warned of two years of works to build the Cardiff Crossrail.
On Radio Wales on Wednesday, Ms Brychan said the government had a target for 50% of learners learning through Welsh by 2050 and that is something each of Wales' 22 councils would have to deliver.
She said the issue about the Cardiff high school was something she was "interested" in but had to be careful what she said as it is an application which could end up with the Welsh Government for determination.
