techiaith/cofnodycynulliad_en-cy huggingface dataset:
English: Thank you, Jenny, for that. I am aware that my predecessor, Huw Lewis, met with campaigners on this particular issue and statements were issued at that time. I am also aware that my colleague Rebecca Evans is actively pursuing this case and we'll be working across Government to look at evidence and to look at ways forward.
Welsh: Diolch, Jenny, am hynny. Rwy'n gwybod bod fy rhagflaenydd, Huw Lewis, wedi cwrdd ag ymgyrchwyr ar y mater penodol hwn a bod datganiadau wedi'u cyhoeddi bryd hynny. Rwyf hefyd yn ymwybodol bod fy nghyd-Aelod, Rebecca Evans, yn mynd ati i ymdrin â'r achos hwn a byddwn yn gweithio ar draws y Llywodraeth i edrych ar dystiolaeth ac i edrych ar ffyrdd ymlaen.
English: Thank you very much, Hefin. Can I assure you that the teaching standards were developed by the professionals for the professionals, and, indeed, they also trialled in schools before they were formally adopted? It is a source of concern to me that the professional learning passport has not been as well used as I would like it to. I think it has real potential, and we need to reflect on how we can make it as easy for professionals to use as possible and as relevant for them to use as possible - not having to go home and spend hours and hours and hours doing extra work, but, actually, how they can use that interactively as they go about their daily work, sharing that with other professionals in their schools, and, of course, information technology is a great way in which we can address some of that. The EWC initially had a role to play in the initial work on teaching standards carried out by the previous administration. The EWC is a new organisation. They've done a tremendously good job in registering all the different professions that we now ask them to register. They've got an important new role in validating initial teacher education courses and we will constantly reflect as to other roles that the EWC could perform on our behalf.
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Hefin. Hoffwn eich sicrhau bod y safonau addysgu wedi cael eu datblygu gan y gweithwyr proffesiynol ar gyfer y gweithwyr proffesiynol, ac, yn wir, eu bod hefyd wedi cael eu treialu mewn ysgolion cyn iddynt gael eu mabwysiadu'n ffurfiol. Mae'n destun pryder imi nad yw'r pasbort dysgu proffesiynol wedi cael ei ddefnyddio fel yr hoffwn. Rwy'n meddwl bod ganddo botensial go iawn, ac mae angen inni fyfyrio ar sut y gallwn ei wneud mor hawdd i weithwyr proffesiynol ei ddefnyddio â phosib ac mor berthnasol i'w ddefnyddio â phosib - heb orfod mynd adref a threulio oriau ac oriau'n gwneud gwaith ychwanegol, ond, mewn gwirionedd, sut y gallant ddefnyddio hynny'n rhyngweithiol wrth iddynt wneud eu gwaith bob dydd, gan rannu hynny â gweithwyr proffesiynol eraill yn eu hysgolion, ac wrth gwrs, mae technoleg gwybodaeth yn ffordd wych y gallwn ymdrin â rhywfaint o hynny. I ddechrau roedd gan y Cyngor Gweithlu Addysg ran i'w chwarae yn y gwaith cychwynnol ar safonau addysgu a gynhaliwyd gan y weinyddiaeth flaenorol. Mae'r Cyngor Gweithlu Addysg yn sefydliad newydd. Maent wedi gwneud gwaith aruthrol o dda wrth gofrestru'r holl wahanol broffesiynau yr ydym nawr yn gofyn iddynt eu cofrestru. Mae ganddynt swyddogaeth newydd bwysig o ddilysu cyrsiau addysg cychwynnol i athrawon a byddwn yn myfyrio'n gyson am swyddogaethau eraill y gallai'r Cyngor Gweithlu Addysg eu cyflawni ar ein rhan.
English: I'll declare an interest as a former teacher. I know what you said about professional standards, and there's a lot of talk about generic standards and raising standards, and lots of slogans, lots of buzz words. But I'm concerned about the detail, really. So, I wonder if you'll allow me to give you a little test, Cabinet Secretary. Can you outline the contents of the new teaching qualification for teaching assistants - what it involves and how many hours that it actually takes, because the teaching assistants who I speak to are just not very impressed?
Welsh: Rwy'n datgan buddiant fel cyn athro. Rwy'n gwybod beth a ddywedasoch am safonau proffesiynol, ac mae llawer o sôn am safonau generig a chodi safonau, a llawer o sloganau, llawer o eiriau. Ond rwy'n poeni am y manylion, a dweud y gwir. Felly, tybed a wnewch chi ganiatáu imi roi prawf bach ichi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. A allwch amlinellu cynnwys y cymhwyster addysgu newydd ar gyfer cynorthwywyr addysgu - beth mae'n ei olygu a faint o oriau y mae'n ei gymryd mewn gwirionedd, gan nad yw wedi gwneud argraff dda iawn ar y cynorthwywyr addysgu yr wyf i yn siarad â nhw?
English: Well, I'm sorry to hear that. In Wales, we've traditionally used teaching assistants to a great deal of effect. It's really interesting, when I visit other countries, like Finland, and, most recently, southern Irish schools, that teaching assistants do not play a part in the education system at all, or to a very, very, very, very small degree. Usually, the only adult in the room is the qualified teacher. Now, I think teaching assistants have an important part to play, especially in our foundation phase, and, if there are questions about the quality of the professional learning opportunities that our teaching assistants have, I do meet regularly with Unison to talk about these and I'm happy to take them up.
Welsh: Wel, mae'n ddrwg gennyf glywed hynny. Yng Nghymru, rydym yn draddodiadol wedi defnyddio cynorthwywyr addysgu'n effeithiol iawn. Mae'n ddiddorol iawn, pan fyddaf yn ymweld â gwledydd eraill, fel y Ffindir, ac, yn fwyaf diweddar, ysgolion de Iwerddon, nad yw cynorthwywyr addysgu yn chwarae rhan yn y system addysg o gwbl, neu maent yn gwneud hynny i raddau bach iawn, iawn, iawn. Fel arfer, yr unig oedolyn yn yr ystafell yw'r athro cymwysedig. Nawr, rwy'n meddwl bod gan gynorthwywyr addysgu ran bwysig i'w chwarae, yn enwedig yn ein cyfnod sylfaen, ac os oes cwestiynau am ansawdd y cyfleoedd dysgu proffesiynol sydd gan ein cynorthwywyr addysgu, rwy'n cyfarfod yn rheolaidd ag Unison i siarad am y rhain ac rwy'n hapus i sôn amdanynt.
English: But what is it?
Welsh: Ond beth ydyw?
English: Thank you. First of all, I would like to welcome the action plan as a positive and transformational step forward for Wales, and my question really is based around the fact that we do have the best ever GCSE results for Wales. Are we complacent in that journey in moving forward? Do you feel that attainment gap that we are now closing is closing fast enough? And are you very confident that the way forward for us is to continue with the OECD's commentary around the fact that this transformational curriculum is the right way forward for Wales? Thank you.
Welsh: Diolch. Yn gyntaf oll, hoffwn groesawu'r cynllun gweithredu fel cam cadarnhaol a thrawsnewidiol ymlaen i Gymru, ac mae fy nghwestiwn mewn gwirionedd yn seiliedig ar y ffaith bod gennym y canlyniadau TGAU gorau erioed i Gymru. A ydym ni'n hunanfodlon ar y daith honno wrth symud ymlaen? Ydych chi'n teimlo bod y bwlch cyrhaeddiad yr ydym bellach yn ei gau yn cau'n ddigon cyflym? Ydych chi'n hyderus iawn mai'r ffordd ymlaen inni yw parhau â sylwadau'r OECD ynghylch y ffaith mai'r cwricwlwm trawsffurfiol hwn yw'r ffordd gywir ymlaen i Gymru? Diolch.
English: Could I say I'm absolutely not complacent at all? Is the attainment gap closing fast enough? No, it's not. I'm particularly concerned about the fact that our children on free school meals continue not to reach the same attainment levels as their richer counterparts. But I'm also equally concerned about how few children in some local authorities who are on school action plus reach the level 2+ threshold. In some local authorities it's a real, real cause for concern. I'm also concerned, for instance, about children who do not receive their education in a traditional school, whether that be in a pupil referral unit or in education otherwise than at school. So, there are many, many levels to this issue around the attainment gap. It's not just about free school meals. It is about additional learning needs and it is about EOTAS, and this action plan sets out what we intend to do with all aspects of that.
Welsh: A gaf i ddweud nad wyf yn hunanfodlon o gwbl? A yw'r bwlch cyrhaeddiad yn cau'n ddigon cyflym? Nac ydy. Rydw i'n pryderu'n arbennig am y ffaith bod ein plant sy'n cael prydau ysgol am ddim yn parhau i fethu â chyrraedd yr un lefelau cyrhaeddiad â'u cyfoedion cyfoethocach. Ond rydw i hefyd yr un mor bryderus ynglŷn â chyn lleied o blant mewn rhai awdurdodau lleol sydd ar Gweithredu gan yr Ysgol a Mwy sy'n cyrraedd y trothwy lefel 2+. Mewn rhai awdurdodau lleol mae'n destun pryder go iawn. Rwyf hefyd yn pryderu, er enghraifft, am blant nad ydynt yn cael eu haddysg mewn ysgol draddodiadol, boed hynny mewn uned cyfeirio disgyblion neu mewn addysg heblaw yn yr ysgol. Felly, mae llawer iawn o lefelau i'r mater hwn o gwmpas y bwlch cyrhaeddiad. Nid dim ond mater o brydau ysgol am ddim yw hwn. Mae'n ymwneud ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol ac mae'n ymwneud ag addysg heblaw yn yr ysgol, ac mae'r cynllun gweithredu hwn yn nodi'r hyn yr ydym yn bwriadu ei wneud gyda phob agwedd ar hynny.
English: I welcome today's statement, but may I ask the Cabinet Secretary to explain how today's announcement will assist Welsh-medium education in particular? I am pleased to have two excellent Welsh-medium schools in my constituency. Ysgol Llangynwyd serves the west, and Llanhari serves the east, but both will find difficulty in finding sufficient numbers of chemistry, maths, and physics teachers and so on. With increasing demand for high-quality Welsh-medium education in all subjects, how are we ensuring that we improve educational standards for all children and young people, particularly in the mother tongue of Wales?
Welsh: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Croesawaf y datganiad heddiw, ond a allaf ofyn i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet esbonio sut y bydd y cyhoeddiad heddiw yn helpu addysg yn yr iaith Gymraeg yn enwedig? Rwy'n falch o gael dwy ysgol Gymraeg ardderchog yn fy etholaeth i. Mae ysgol Llangynwyd yn gwasanaethu'r gorllewin, ac mae Llanhari yn gwasanaethu'r dwyrain, ond bydd y ddwy yn ei chael hi'n anodd i ddod o hyd i ddigon o athrawon ffiseg a chemeg a mathemateg ac ati. Gyda'r galw cynyddol am addysg i'r lefel uchaf yn y Gymraeg ym mhob pwnc, sut ydym ni yn sicrhau ein bod yn gwella safonau addysgol ar gyfer pob plentyn a pherson ifanc, yn enwedig ym mamiaith Cymru?
English: Item 4 on the agenda this afternoon is a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure on transport proposals for Deeside, and I call on Ken Skates to introduce the statement.
Welsh: Eitem 4 ar yr agenda y prynhawn yma yw datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Economi a Seilwaith ynglŷn â chynigion trafnidiaeth ar gyfer Glannau Dyfrdwy, a galwaf ar Ken Skates i gyflwyno'r datganiad.
English: Thank you. And then, finally, the Chair of the committee. But with a question only, please.
Welsh: Diolch. Ac yna, yn olaf, Cadeirydd y pwyllgor. Ond gyda chwestiwn yn unig, os gwelwch yn dda.
English: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Cabinet Secretary, I welcome the creation of the steering group you mentioned. Can you outline in a bit more detail how you're looking to strengthen cross-border working with the Department for Transport, Transport for the North, and others to ensure that you are taking advantage of the UK Government's investment in HS2 and high speed 3? Finally, while it's right and proper that infrastructure in north Wales forges links with the north of England, it's also important, of course, that infrastructure facilitates greater connectivity with mid Wales. You wouldn't expect me to say anything different. I'd be interested to hear what your plans are to improve links between north and mid Wales, particularly in regard to how businesses can access and take advantage of developments in the north.
Welsh: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, croesawaf greu'r grŵp llywio y soniasoch amdano. A allwch chi amlinellu yn fanylach sut yr ydych chi'n bwriadu cryfhau gweithio trawsffiniol gyda'r Adran Drafnidiaeth, 'Transport for the North', ac eraill i sicrhau eich bod yn manteisio ar fuddsoddiad Llywodraeth y DU yng nghynlluniau 'HS2' a 'high speed 3? Yn olaf, er ei bod hi'n iawn a phriodol bod y seilwaith yng ngogledd Cymru yn creu cysylltiadau â gogledd Lloegr, mae hefyd yn bwysig, wrth gwrs, bod y seilwaith hwnnw'n hwyluso mwy o gysylltedd â chanolbarth Cymru. Ni fyddech yn disgwyl i mi ddweud unrhyw beth gwahanol. Byddai gennyf ddiddordeb mewn clywed beth yw eich cynlluniau chi i wella'r cysylltiadau rhwng y gogledd a'r canolbarth, yn enwedig o ran sut y gall busnesau fanteisio ar ddatblygiadau yn y gogledd a manteisio arnynt.
English: Can I put on record my thanks to Members of Parliament in the Wrexham area, Clwyd South, and also across the border - I've met with Owen Paterson on a number of occasions - for pursuing a campaign to see the dualling of the Shrewsbury to Ruabon route? It is an ambitious campaign, but one that I think demonstrates the need and the appetite for improvements in north-south travel on a cross-border basis. We are also taking forward, at good speed, the Newtown bypass, which the Member is well aware of, again improving north-south travel. But, in addition to this, I've already announced the fund - the pinch points fund - that will address some major bottlenecks along the trunk road network, including at the Halton roundabout on the A483. I'm pleased that I've had initial scoping work back from officials, and it appears that we will be able to deliver upgrades at that particular point within this Assembly term. And, on a cross-border basis, I do think that the momentum that we've built up with Growth Track 360 and the taskforce has been immense and I don't wish to lose that momentum. The steering group will have representatives from cross-border agencies, and I'm keen to ensure that the north Wales growth bid contains a significant proportion of transport projects to enable the region to be better connected and to align with the growth deal bid that is being constructed, and will be negotiated on, within the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership area.
Welsh: A gaf i gofnodi fy niolch i Aelodau Seneddol yn ardal Wrecsam, De Clwyd, a hefyd ar draws y ffin - rwyf wedi cyfarfod ag Owen Paterson ar sawl achlysur - am ddilyn ymgyrch i gael ffordd ddeuol rhwng yr Amwythig a Rhiwabon? Mae'n ymgyrch uchelgeisiol, ond yn un sydd yn fy marn i yn dangos yr angen a'r awydd i weld gwelliannau o ran teithio rhwng y de a'r gogledd ar sail drawsffiniol. Rydym ni hefyd yn datblygu, ar gyflymder da, ffordd osgoi'r Drenewydd, y mae'r Aelod yn ymwybodol iawn ohoni, ac mae hyn unwaith eto yn gwella teithio rhwng y de a'r gogledd. Ond, yn ychwanegol at hyn, rwyf eisoes wedi cyhoeddi'r gronfa - y gronfa i fynd i'r afael â mannau lle mae traffig yn crynhoi - a fydd yn mynd i'r afael â rhai o'r prif dagfeydd traffig ar hyd y rhwydwaith cefnffyrdd, gan gynnwys yng nghylchfan Halton ar yr A483. Rwy'n falch fy mod wedi cael gwaith ymchwil cychwynnol yn ôl gan swyddogion, ac ymddengys y byddwn yn gallu uwchraddio'r man penodol hwnnw yn ystod tymor y Cynulliad hwn. Ac, ar sail drawsffiniol, rwy'n credu bod y momentwm yr ydym ni wedi'i adeiladu gyda chynllun 'Growth Track 360' a'r tasglu wedi bod yn aruthrol ac nid wyf am i ni golli'r momentwm hwnnw. Bydd gan y grŵp llywio gynrychiolwyr o asiantaethau trawsffiniol, ac rwy'n awyddus i sicrhau bod cynnig twf gogledd Cymru yn cynnwys cyfran sylweddol o brosiectau trafnidiaeth er mwyn galluogi'r rhanbarth i fod yn fwy cysylltiedig ac i gyd-fynd â'r cynnig bargen twf o fewn ardal Partneriaeth Menter Leol Swydd Gaer a Warrington.
English: The next item on our agenda is the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport on the neurological conditions delivery plan of 2017-2020. I call on the Cabinet Secretary for health, Vaughan Gething, to introduce the statement.
Welsh: Yr eitem nesaf ar ein hagenda yw datganiad Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd, Lles a Chwaraeon ar gynllun cyflawni 2017-2020 ar gyfer cyflyrau niwrolegol. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd, Vaughan Gething, i gyflwyno'r datganiad.
English: Thank you very much for that update. I have four questions stemming from today's statement. The first relates to expenditure. We heard in the statement that there was an increase of 65 per cent in expenditure on neurological conditions over the four years up to 2015. I wonder whether it would be possible to have an explanation for that particular trend, because it appears to be too much of an increase to have been driven by demographic factors alone. In terms of PREMs and PROMs and the intention to develop a system that can bring outcomes that can be compared across health boards in Wales, I do welcome that. But, what consideration has been given to enable us to benchmark also against the other health services across the United Kingdom? Thirdly, and speaking of that comparison with other countries, the Wales Neurological Alliance has said that Wales is falling behind in terms of waiting times for assessment. The statement that we have heard acknowledges that early diagnosis is vital, but what investment can you point towards that shows that the Government is trying to ensure that diagnosis does happen earlier? Finally, ensuring that we do have a sufficient number of specialist nurses is vital for the care that is provided to patients. So, what resources are being provided to help to increase the appeal of working as a neurological nurse as a career, and to ensure that the support is available to enable nurses to pursue that particular career path?
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr iawn am y diweddariad. Mae gen i bedwar o gwestiynau yn deillio o'r datganiad heddiw. Mae'r cyntaf yn gysylltiedig â gwariant. Fe glywsom ni yn y datganiad yna bod yna gynnydd o 65 y cant wedi bod mewn gwariant ar gyflyrau niwrolegol yn y pedair blynedd hyd at 2015. Tybed a fyddai'n bosib cael eglurhad dros y 'trend' yna, achos mae'n sicr yn ymddangos yn ormod o gynnydd i fod wedi'i yrru gan ffactorau demograffig yn unig. O ran PREMs a PROMs a'r bwriad i ddatblygu system a all ddod â chanlyniadau i ni allu cymharu ar draws byrddau iechyd Cymru, rwy'n croesawu hynny. Ond, pa ystyriaeth, tybed, sydd wedi'i roi i'n galluogi ni i feincnodi hefyd yn erbyn y gwasanaethau iechyd eraill ar draws y Deyrnas Gyfunol? Yn drydydd, ac wrth sôn am gymharu efo gwledydd eraill, mae Cynghrair Niwrolegol Cymru yn dweud bod Cymru yn syrthio ar ei hôl hi o ran amseroedd aros am asesiadau. Mae'r datganiad rydym wedi'i glywed yn cydnabod bod diagnosis cynnar yn hanfodol, ond pa fuddsoddiad gallwch chi bwyntio ato fo sydd yn dangos bod y Llywodraeth yn ceisio sicrhau bod diagnosis yn digwydd yn gynharach? Ac yn olaf, mae sicrhau bod gennym ni ddigon o nyrsys arbenigol yn allweddol i'r gofal sy'n cael ei gynnig i gleifion. Felly, pa adnoddau sydd yn cael eu darparu i helpu i gynyddu apêl gweithio fel nyrs niwrolegol arbenigol fel gyrfa, ac i sicrhau bod y cymorth ar gael i alluogi nyrsys i ddilyn y llwybr gyrfa yma?
English: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. I'd like to focus my contribution today on issues relating to dystonia, which is the third most common neurological condition in Wales but an issue where public awareness is generally low. And I'd like to thank you for coming to my constituency and meeting with constituents of mine who are members of the south Wales dystonia support group, and listening to their concerns around Botox treatment. You'll be pleased to know that, since then, they've reported to me an improvement within that service, although I do agree with some of the comments that Mark Isherwood has also raised. So, without repeating those comments, my question to you is simply: with cases of dystonia being on the increase, how can the Welsh Government integrate the promotion of a better understanding of the condition into its delivery plan for neurological conditions?
Welsh: Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Hoffwn i ganolbwyntio fy nghyfraniad heddiw ar faterion yn ymwneud â dystonia, sef y trydydd cyflwr niwrolegol mwyaf cyffredin yng Nghymru, ond mater y mae'r ymwybyddiaeth ohono yn brin ar y cyfan ymysg y cyhoedd. Ac fe hoffwn ddiolch ichi am ddod i'm hetholaeth a chyfarfod ag etholwyr sy'n aelodau o grŵp cymorth dystonia de Cymru, a gwrando ar eu pryderon ynghylch triniaeth Botox. Byddwch yn falch o wybod, ers hynny, eu bod nhw wedi sôn wrthyf i am welliant o fewn y gwasanaeth hwnnw, er fy mod yn cytuno â rhai o'r sylwadau a gododd Mark Isherwood hefyd. Felly, heb ailadrodd y sylwadau hynny, fy nghwestiwn i chi yn syml yw hyn: gydag achosion o dystonia yn cynyddu, sut y gall Llywodraeth Cymru integreiddio'r gwaith o hyrwyddo gwell dealltwriaeth o'r cyflwr yn ei gynllun cyflawni ar gyfer cyflyrau niwrolegol?
English: Thank you for the question and the focus point there on, as you say, the third most common neurological condition, and that is part of what we expect to see moving forward with this plan, because you can't say you want a plan for an improvement in these services if you then ignore the third most common condition. I am pleased to hear directly from you that the meeting that we've had has made a difference for that group of patients, because I do recognise that the service was not in the place where we would want it to be, and the focus and the attention we brought with the chair of the health board and the leader from the health board - I'm pleased to see that's making a difference. And the challenge now that this plan period covers is how we make that generally sustainable, and I think the continuous interest from Members such as you will ensure that this is a condition that isn't going to slip off the agenda for our health boards.
Welsh: Diolch am y cwestiwn ac am dynnu sylww, fel y dywedwch, at y trydydd cyflwr niwrolegol mwyaf cyffredin, ac mae hynny'n rhan o'r hyn yr ydym yn disgwyl ei weld wrth symud ymlaen gyda'r cynllun hwn, gan na allwch chi honni eich bod yn awyddus i gael cynllun ar gyfer gwelliant yn y gwasanaethau hyn os ydych wedyn am anwybyddu'r trydydd cyflwr mwyaf cyffredin. Rwy'n falch o glywed yn uniongyrchol gennych chi fod y cyfarfod a gawsom ni wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth i'r grŵp hwnnw o gleifion, gan fy mod yn cydnabod nad oedd y gwasanaeth yn y man y byddem yn dymuno iddo fod ynddo, a'r eglurdeb a'r sylw a ddaeth gerbron cadeirydd y bwrdd iechyd ac arweinydd y bwrdd iechyd - rwy'n falch o weld bod hynny'n gwneud gwahaniaeth. Yr her sydd gennym nawr, y mae cyfnod y cynllun hwn yn ei gwmpasu, yw sut mae gwneud hynny'n gynaliadwy yn gyffredinol, a chredaf y bydd diddordeb parhaus Aelodau fel chi yn sicrhau nad yw hwn yn gyflwr a fydd yn llithro oddi ar yr agenda ein byrddau iechyd.
English: The next item on our agenda is the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs on energy. I call on the Cabinet Secretary to make the statement - Lesley Griffiths.
Welsh: Yr eitem nesaf ar ein hagenda ni yw'r datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Amgylchedd a Materion Gwledig ar ynni. Rwy'n galw ar yr ysgrifennydd Cabinet i wneud ei datganiad - Lesley Griffiths.