Minister for Health Simon Harris has confirmed that student nurses will be paid for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.
Student nurses and midwives will be offered a contract as a healthcare assistant with a salary of 28,000 euro.
"I want to thank our student nurses and midwives for the brilliant work they are doing in this difficult time," he said.
"We need all hands on deck through this challenging period.
"This is an offer and not an obligation, but I know so many of our student nurses want to play their role as we navigate our way through these difficult times.
"Our healthcare professionals have shown immense leadership and I will do everything I can to support them."
We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
For the latest news and breaking news visit irishmirror.ie/news.
Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Follow us on Twitter @IrishMirror - the official Irish Mirror Twitter account - real news in real time.
We're also on Facebook/irishmirror - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Irish Daily Mirror, Irish Sunday Mirror and irishmirror.ie.
