Among the most significant recommendations in the PIANO report were

. establishing the NSO by law under an independent board answerable directly to

. the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht

. the licence fee should continue to be the primary source of funding or the NSO

. the position of the RTECO and RTE Quartet to be strengthened via legislation

. composers in association for each of the performing groups

. programming to reflect "worldwide trends in composition"

. regional chamber ensembles and music schools for Sligo and Galway

. the creation of a musical instrument bank, and the purchase of concert

. standard grand pianos for regional use

. an overhaul of the position of music in education.