The report of the Review Committee on Post Secondary Education by the senior AIB executive, Donal de Buitleir, predicts the numbers at third level would reach 114,000 by next year. The report says at this level Ireland is capable of meeting its objective of having third-level participation rates among the top quarter in the OECD. More controversially the report states, "this should allow Ireland to meet its strategic objective in relation to undergraduate provision for traditional school-leavers".

However the report does not recommend capping the numbers at third level and suggests instead they should be reviewed if there is an "unanticipated skills demand". In terms of disadvantaged students, it supports the use of quotas, but also stresses that student supports need to be greatly increased.