The Government is to review its decision to phase out pay for student nurses on work placement by 2015.
Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Coughlan said she has asked the secretary general of her department to review the rationale for the total abolition of clinical placement payments to student nurses.
Ms Coughlan said that she felt there was a strong argument in favour of retaining some level of payment to student nurses.
She added: 'I intend that a revised proposal will then be brought to Government that will be self-financing and contained within the parameters of my Department's four-year current budget allocation.'
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation had advised members to only vote for parties that pledged to reverse the planned pay cuts.
General Secretary Liam Doran had warned that the votes of the 6,000 student nurses and their supporters could influence the outcome of the final seat in a number of constituencies.
Thousands of nurses protested over the plan on Wednesday afternoon.
Fourth year student nurses currently spend the final nine months of their degree programme replacing paid qualified staff on wards.
They receive 80% of the minimum staff rate.
However, the Government had decided to gradually eliminate their pay, so that by 2015 they would be working full-time for nine months for free.
The INMO said it noted the decision to commence a review and it is anxious to participate in the review.
However, it is still seeking a full reversal of the decision, including the element of the cut relating to 2011.
A spokesperson said their rally and protest march will still go ahead in Dublin on Wednesday.
