04/07/2016 BBC Wales Today

Well Wales today. Billion pounds of EU money waiting to be spent in

Wales. Tonight a council boss bags get on with it before it is too

late. We want to make sure that money is allocated to us why we are

a UK member. We want our fair share. Other headlines. No improvement for

patients with mental health issues. One charity tells as it is deeply

concerned. And good evening from France, Wales prepared to meet

Portugal for a place in the final of Udo 2016. Gareth Bale says Wales

play Portugal, not Bale versus Ronaldo. It's not about to players.

Everybody knows that, really, it's about two nations. The semifinal, 11

million supporters. It is a game and nobody wants to miss. Fans desperate

to be here at any cost. Definitely the van. I can get rid of the van.

A billion pounds of EU funding for the most deprived parts of Wales

has yet to be spent, and the leader of one of our biggest

councils says the Welsh Government must allocate it urgently

Andrew Morgan, who leads Rhondda Cynon Taff, says the money

assigned to Wales for projects up to 2020 could be withdrawn -

But some prominent Leave campaigners say -

the money should be spent on the right projects -

Billions has been spent an EU funded regeneration schemes across Wales.

From infrastructure to leisure and education. But time is running out

for future spending after Wales, like England, voted to leave. The

leader of Rhondda Cynon Taff council says the priority now has to be

getting the EU money invested before it is too late.

These are schemes which have been worked out in a lot of detail. We

are not blocking schemes out of the to waste money. Ultimately, we've

only got two years at most to spend this money.

Andrew Morgan believes that south Wales valleys towns like Aberdare

could benefit from decision is an EU funded regeneration projects,

including one planned for this former hotel. In these offices

behind me in Merthyr Tydfil are the offices of the Welsh European

funding office which is part of the Welsh government. They will have to

find something else to do here. But what happens between now and

Brexit? Officials will come under pressure to get as much of the

remaining funds out of the door as quickly as possible. Nearly a

fortnight has passed since the referendum result, but reminders are

still here like in Merthyr Tydfil. Ironically, only a few hundred yards

where millions were spent in the town. But that was the paradox.

Communities that spent most in need were most likely to want to leave.

It also happened elsewhere. Swansea voted to leave, yet today Prince

Charles officially opened the University's new campus, the most

high-profile EU funded project in Wales in recent years. Leave

campaigners responded to Andrew Morgan by saying investment like

this will not dry up. They say that instead, it will come from

Westminster, and be awarded to project that will be more effective

in improving economy. After we've left the European Union

we will have all the money that currently is being diverted to the

EU to spend on projects such as those he is interested in. I don't

think you should be rushing to splash the cash.

The Welsh government says the money is already being freed up quickly.

40% of the EU money that is available has been committed.

We are confident that there are projects in the pipeline, good ideas

that we will want to find. If we can draw those forward and make them

happen earlier then it is in everybody's just to do that.

Funding for projects like these will soon be consigned to the history

books. But before they go a clear call today to make the most of the

Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood, has also been talking about Brexit,

calling for the Assembly to approve a plan for Wales.

The Welsh Government says it's doing everything it can to strengthen

But Ms Wood criticised its response, suggesting a lack of urgency,

and says the option of Welsh independence should be considered,

Whatever happens now to the future of the UK, it is we, in Wales, who

should decide upon our future. If people in Scotland want to leave the

UK in order to protect their European Union membership, then an

independent Wales should be an option for people here.

And Wales has a real opportunity to design "Welsh-specific policies"

on farming and the environment now we're leaving the EU.

That's according to the Welsh Government's Rural Affairs

Secretary, Lesley Griffiths, after she and First Minister,

Carwyn Jones, met with industry representatives earlier to discuss

the challenges and opportunities presented by the vote.

My whole portfolio is awash with EU funding, regulations and policies,

legislation. It is an area that is the most holy devolved within the

Welsh government so it is important that we get it right for Wales. We

know that we can get specific policies, but want to do what is in

the best interests of Wales. A mental health charity says it's

'extremely concerned' that outcomes for Welsh patients do not appear

to have improved over Gofal saysit's annual survey

suggests little is being done to check that the treatments

for things like depression Euro 2016 first saw her GP about her

mental health when she was 18. -- Jayne. Instead of referring here to

help her doctor told her it could have been worse, she could have been

self harming. The GP came out and said, at least

you are not cutting. I think that is just about the worst thing you can

say to an anxious, vulnerable 18-year-old. I was going through a

mental health crisis, my health deteriorated quite significantly

over the following weeks, and I attempted suicide.

Back in 2012 a law came into force in Wales to try to improve access to

things like therapy and counselling. Ever since this charity has asked

800 patients each year about the treatment they are offered. Over one

third of people consistently say that if they do get out, it's a B

doesn't work. We know that there are many people

in health boards who are deeply committed to making this legislation

work and improving services. But, at the moment outcomes are not

collected consistently across Wales, and while that fails to happen we

can't see a true picture of whether this legislation is having an impact

or not. It is items we have collected from

throughout Europe. Julie works in this museum in

Cardiff. She found herself housebound of work for weeks with

agoraphobia. In the end, we wait for therapy was too long, she had to pay

to go privately. She feels mental health must be looked at

differently. If you were diabetic you would go

back several times, you'd have somebody coming in, checking your

bloods. Somebody should do that for your mental health, saying, I need

you to come and see me once a month. I need a progress report. To check

up on what's going on. Are you really feeling right? Julie

is optimistic about in future now, Jayne has good care from a different

GP and other NHS staff. The Welsh government says it is more to do to

improve mental health care across Wales. It is bringing in a new

computer system to record more data about what is working for people and

what is not. A father-to-be and his unborn son

were killed by a driver "doing motorway speeds" on a 40 mile

an hour limit road, Simon Lewis died on Lamby Way

in Cardiff on New Year's Eve. His wife was injured and their son,

who was born three days Kyle Kennedy denies causing death

by dangerous driving, but admits causing death

by careless driving. Thousands of handmade poppies

and a replica of the Mametz dragon have gone on display at the Pierhead

building in Cardiff Bay, to mark the centenary

of the Battle of the Somme. 350 poppies made by a community

group in Tonypandy will be sent to Mametz, to be laid on the graves

of soldiers from the Rhondda. And tonight former Wales rugby

captain, Gareth Thomas, retraces the steps of his ancestors

from the Valleys to Mametz Wood, where hundreds

of Welsh soldiers died. Wales At The Somme, tonight

at 9pm, on BBC One Wales. You are not dreaming. This is really

happening. Wales prepared to play in the semifinals. We go live now to

France. It's a spectacular setting

for a semi final, considered the gastronomic capital of France,

a UNESCO World Heritage site - Two nations will go head to head

for a place in the final, but the talk today has mostly been

about two players in particular. There are few footballers in the

world that attract such attention. He is the most expensive beating the

record set by his team-mate, Cristiano Ronaldo. Much has been

made of their relationship, now more so as they face each other in the

semifinal. Of course, he is a fantastic player.

Everybody knows what he can do. We've always spoken about what we

do, as the team, we don't worry about the opposition. We know a lot

of teams we have played have very good individuals, but, for us, it is

rugby team and how we form as 18. Why the focus was on Rinaldo at

training today it was the absence of another Portuguese star from the

Wales camp. Grey centre back, is being rested. Ten one Marco says

they are very much still a threat. It is about two nations in the

semifinal, a 11 men against 11. They are in the semifinal for a reason.

Yes, we are just going to try and rise to the occasion.

We will carry on in the same vein. Wales are hoping to recreate the

quarterfinal performance that blew away Belgium on Friday. In Swansea

they are already attempting to emulate the wonder goal. They are

sure Wales can do it again. It was amazing. This was the first

time we've got this far. When we saw that goal we knew this was a

brilliant moment. I reckon we have a chance of

winning. Of course we do have the star player, Bale. And Rinaldo

against each other. I think we have a really good chance of winning.

I think it's just incredible. It's going to be really tight because it

is bailed versus Cristiano Ronaldo. I think we have a good chance of

winning that game. The team are confident that they are stronger

together. Talking to fans many expected

a fortnight in France, now we're entering the 4th week,

many have cleared their diaries, exhausted their annual leave,

and raided savings accounts Nick Palit now on the fans spending

a fortune, determined not to miss History boys, indeed. Wales have

done it. With win after win the boys in red theme unstoppable. Each

victory means they stay in France a little longer. For fans already

their holidays are extended. Boys I know of have literally lost

their jobs. I was with a guy the other day and he said he just has to

come here. For those back home the euphoria of victory is spurring them

on to join their fellow supporters on the other side of the channel, or

in some cases, the other side of the world.

It is ten o'clock in Melbourne Australia I am just about to get a

flight. This man now works in Australian

mining, he is spending ?2600 to get to the game against Portugal.

I've got to travel down to Lyon. He has promised his partner he will

do the ironing for the rest of his life to make up to, but others are

making bigger sacrifices. It is an old five plate. I'm looking

for a dating hundred for it. Matthew is selling his only means of

transport, the Royal Mail engineer has already spent ?2500 following

Wales so far but needs extra cash to carry on.

I think it's one of those moments that you will save for ever. The

memories will last a lifetime. It's been pretty good, yeah. I'm still

buzzing. This man is also parking for France

again, he has already had a pricey family holiday in Bordeaux that

happen to coincide with the start of the tournament.

I've got savings that will cover me for the trips, but my mates, he is

happy to live in debt for the next few months just to live the dream.

But with match tickets in short supply, it is very much a case of

buyer beware. Scott's girlfriend bought 40 bits and social media, but

it was a scam. They are now trying to recoup the money with an online

appeal. It's been a massive expense in the

first instance for us to get to France, the tickets, the flights,

accommodation. Just the day-to-day expenses as well. It's financially

hit as really hard. ?600 is a lot of money to everybody. Don't take me

home, they chanted as the Wales European adventure continues. And

witnessing this piece of sporting history is an expensive business.

Credit card bills and overdrafts may take a long time to clear, but the

memories will last a lifetime. While Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo know

which other very well Portugal with will be unfamiliar opponents. We

have only played them three times. Last time back in 2000, a three nil

defeat. You got to go back to 1951 to find the previous game. It seems

many of you wanted to be a part of history on Friday night, Wales

beating Belgium 31. At one stage more than 1.2 million of you were

watching. That has broken all records. The biggest television

audience in Wales for a live sporting event. I'm sure that record

will be broken in the final. A model yacht found on a beach and repaired

by local schoolchildren has been reunited

with the American School launched it more than a year ago. The story of

the Carolina Dreamer reads like a fairy tale.

Once upon a time there was a little boat sent across a big ocean, but it

ended up making the world seem a little smaller. The Carolina dreamer

was launched in the USA in 2015. 5000 kilometres and nine months

later, the tracking signal stopped. It was assumed lost at sea, the GPS

signal was last. Leaving the entire class devastated. It was spotted by

a family bobbing on the beach. We looked closely and we could see it

was a little boat. So I waded in and pulled it out because we were really

excited. We thought it was a pilot boat, didn't you? No gold on board,

but there was a treasure Trail putting together the puzzle of where

it had come from and how to fix it. This school came to the rescue.

Contacting pupils in America and carrying out repairs. I'm really

excited because I loved it when the boat came. I'm into things with

engines answer. Today there was a heartfelt reunion.

43 pupils from Wales travelled to the ferry in Fishguard to hand the

dreamer back to her American owners. She has impacted all our lives. You

can see how emotional we have all got. The friends, the students know

each other. Countries have come together. I didn't think it would do

what it did, but I think it was supposed to do something special.

The little boat will continue, she is to be launched off the Azores to

who knows where, but she leaves carrying a Welsh flag on board, a

reminder of where she has been, for those she has yet to meet.

The weather forecast for sailors and land lubbers, here's Sue.

At released this week is looking more settled. Warmer for a time

midweek as well. We've got an area of low pressure bringing thick cloud

and drizzle which will move out into the North Sea overnight. A more

settled day with a brisk wind moving in behind it. Tonight, clear spells,

often cloudy with further spots of rain and drizzle at times. Easing

with cloud starting to break by the morning. Feeling quite murky

overnight. It might be a misty, murky start tomorrow but with that

friend clearing things improve the day to leave a dry, bright and

breezy afternoon with sunny spells developing later. Top temperature of

15 Celsius and 19 degrees in Newport. Those brisk north-westerly

winds. Clear spells tomorrow night, still at the odd spot of drizzle

around but some clouds too. Slightly cooler than slight at eight to 12

Celsius. Mid week we've got an area of high pressure building from the

south-west, keeping these Atlantic weather systems at bay for a time,

at least. Bringing in war may with a change to a south-westerly

direction. Wednesday looks fair with some cloud, sunny spells and warmer

south-westerly winds, slightly milder. Temperatures reaching high

teens. It is looking fairly settled for the end of the week, maybe a

little overcast at times on Thursday but dry and bright. Warmer again by

Friday. Finally, today's picture taken by a weather watcher some mist

and low cloud over Gower. It is a reminder if you have any photos to

tell the weather story you can sign up to become a weather watcher on

the website. Thank you, Sue. Our main headlines again. The leader of

a council has called for an all guns blazing approach to investing

European friends before the UK leaves the European Union. More than

?1 billion of EU funding in Wales is yet to be allocated. I will have an

update for your DPM. -- at 8pm. Thank you for watching, good

evening.