North/South Language Body Equality Scheme

Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires public authorities, in carrying out their functions relating to Northern Ireland, to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and regard to the desirability of promoting good relations across a range of categories outlined in the act.

The North/South Language Body (Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency) have prepared an Equality Scheme setting out how both organisations propose to fulfil the Section 75 statutory duties. That Scheme was approved by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in November 2025. As a result of approval, Foras na Gaeilge is currently preparing an audit of inequality and Equality Action Plan to be published in 2026. The plan will cover both the Section 75 duties in the North and the public sector duty in relation to equality in the South.

Here are the directions if you are using a screen reader:

• Open the Equality Scheme in Acrobat Reader.
• Go to Read out loud and select Activate read out loud.