The commission's key recommendations

The Leaving Certificate is to be retained as the principal mechanism for allocating third-level places.

The CAO will continue to operate the centralised applications system.

Five per cent of third-level intake, in all courses, is to be set aside for disadvantaged students.

By 2005, 15 per cent of first-year third-level places are to be reserved for mature applicants. This quota will increase to 25 per cent by 2015.

Points and basic entry requirements for courses should be attained in the same sitting of the Leaving Certificate.

Those sitting the Leaving Certificate for a third or subsequent time should have their points reduced by 10 per cent.

There is a need to broaden significantly what is measured in the Leaving Certificate.

The possibility of postgraduate entry to high-points healthcare courses should be explored.

Third-level colleges, should, where feasible, offer broad-based courses in first year.