Nurses who qualified between 2011 and 2015 are set for a pay rise of up to €1500 from January of next year.

The rise comes through the reinstatement of an ‘incremental credit’ for the final 36 weeks of nurses training.

Traditionally, fourth year student nurses received payment for the final months of their training - which is spent in a clinical setting.

However, in December 2010, the government decided to phase out the payment and to abolish the earned incremental credit for it.

The reinstatement of the credit, announced by Minister for Health, Simon Harris will push graduates who were affected by the cuts up one point on the pay scale.

The increment could be worth €1,200 and €1,500 depending on each nurse’s current point on the scale and will affect around 4,000 nurses.

Some qualified nurses who went abroad for better pay will also be entitled to the credit if they return to work in the health service.

Minister Simon Harris hopes it's a start in making it attractive for graduate nurses to stay and work in Ireland:

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation General Secretary, Liam Doran welcomed the announcement, calling it “an important first step.”

He said the measures, “must now be followed by further initiatives, to address the deepening crisis with regard to nurse/midwife staffing levels and this country’s inability to retain these professionals in our public health service.”