There shall be a body corporate to be known as the Education Authority (referred to in this Act as “the Authority”).

Schedule 1 applies in relation to the Authority.

The Authority has the functions transferred to it by or under this Act or conferred or imposed on it by or under this Act or any other statutory provision.

The functions exercisable immediately before the transfer date by education and library boards under any statutory provision are on that date transferred to the Authority.

It is the duty of the Authority (so far as its powers extend) to encourage, facilitate and promote shared education.

It is the duty of the Authority (so far as its powers extend) to encourage, facilitate and promote the community use of premises of grant-aided schools.

Schedule 2 makes provision for the transfer to the Authority of the assets, liabilities and staff of the bodies dissolved by subsection (1) and contains other supplementary provisions.