English: I extend my thanks to the culture committee for undertaking this piece of work and raising this important issue. Llywydd, I stand and contribute today in my role as chair of the Petitions Committee. One of the most popular petitions since the start of this year has focused on the impact of high energy costs on swimming pools and leisure centres. The petition titled 'Protect leisure centres and swimming pools from closure during the current energy crisis' has received over 4,700 signatures since it opened at the very end of 2022. That is a petition that is still collecting signatures today and until the end of this month. I've just checked on the very useful tool our Petitions Committee clerks have given us and facilitated, and every single constituency has had a signature on this petition. I think that raises the importance of what we're talking about here. The petition reads as follows: 'Swimming pools and leisure centres across the country are under threat as the energy crisis impacts communities across the nation. These facilities provide an essential service for the people of Wales, and are vital to the country's wellbeing. We, the undersigned, call on the Senedd and Welsh Government to recognise the vulnerability of swimming pools by providing a ring-fenced package of financial aid above and beyond the Final Local Government Settlement to ensure swimming pools remain open.' As I said, Llywydd, this petition is still collecting signatures until the end of February, so it limits me to what I can say directly about the petition until it comes to the committee later this year. But if we reflect on last year and the Petitions Committee work when we published a piece of work based on preventing drowning, a theme that underpinned that work was the vital importance of young people being taught to swim and to understand the dangers of waters. Swimming lessons develop a key life skill that opens up a world of fun and physical activity, but also builds safety and confidence. We need facilities to teach skills in every corner of the country.
Welsh: Diolch i'r pwyllgor diwylliant am ymgymryd â'r gwaith hwn a chodi'r mater pwysig hwn. Lywydd, rwy'n codi i gyfrannu heddiw yn fy rôl fel cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Deisebau. Mae un o'r deisebau mwyaf poblogaidd ers dechrau'r flwyddyn hon wedi canolbwyntio ar effaith costau ynni uchel ar byllau nofio a chanolfannau hamdden. Mae'r ddeiseb o'r enw 'Diogelu canolfannau hamdden a phyllau nofio rhag gorfod cau yn ystod yr argyfwng ynni presennol' wedi denu dros 4,700 o lofnodion ers iddi agor ar ddiwedd 2022. Mae honno'n ddeiseb sy'n dal i gasglu llofnodion heddiw a hyd at ddiwedd y mis. Rwyf newydd wirio'r offeryn defnyddiol iawn y mae clercod y Pwyllgor Deisebau wedi'i roi i ni i'w ddefnyddio, ac mae llofnodion o bob etholaeth ar y ddeiseb hon. Credaf fod hynny'n arwydd o bwysigrwydd yr hyn y soniwn amdano yma. Mae'r ddeiseb yn nodi fel a ganlyn: 'Mae pyllau nofio a chanolfannau hamdden ledled y wlad dan fygythiad wrth i'r argyfwng ynni effeithio ar gymunedau ledled y genedl. Mae'r cyfleusterau hyn yn darparu gwasanaeth hanfodol i bobl Cymru ac maent yn hanfodol i lesiant y wlad. Rydym ni, sydd wedi llofnodi isod, yn galw ar y Senedd a Llywodraeth Cymru i gydnabod pa mor fregus yw sefyllfa pyllau nofio drwy ddarparu pecyn o gymorth ariannol wedi'i neilltuo y tu hwnt i'r Setliad Terfynol ar gyfer Llywodraeth Leol i sicrhau bod pyllau nofio'n gallu aros ar agor.' Fel y dywedais, Lywydd, mae'r ddeiseb hon yn dal i gasglu llofnodion tan ddiwedd mis Chwefror, felly mae hynny'n cyfyngu ar yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud yn uniongyrchol am y ddeiseb hyd nes y daw ger bron y pwyllgor yn nes ymlaen eleni. Ond os meddyliwn am y llynedd a gwaith y Pwyllgor Deisebau pan wnaethom gyhoeddi dogfen yn seiliedig ar atal boddi, un thema a oedd yn sail i'r gwaith hwnnw oedd pwysigrwydd hanfodol dysgu pobl ifanc i nofio ac i ddeall peryglon dyfroedd. Mae gwersi nofio'n datblygu sgìl bywyd allweddol sy'n agor y drws i fyd o hwyl a gweithgarwch corfforol, ond sydd hefyd yn datblygu diogelwch ac yn meithrin hyder. Mae angen cyfleusterau i ddysgu'r sgiliau hyn ym mhob cwr o'r wlad.