Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has admitted to making a "mistake" in announcing cuts to teacher numbers in disadvantaged schools.
Mr Quinn's admission comes after the Government this week announced a review of the impact of the cuts in schools that had extra posts under the Deis (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) scheme for schools in disadvantaged areas.
The initiative offers funding for support services in disadvantaged schools including resource teachers.
Some 428 teaching posts were to be cut under measures announced in December's Budget.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Quinn said any reversal of the cuts would have an impact on other areas of education. He also admitted he had not handled the announcement of the cuts particularly well.
"It's not the best way to do it, quite frankly," Mr Quinn said. "We make mistakes, we get things wrong, all of us. And I think the first thing to do is to put your hand up and say: 'Yes, perhaps let's look at that again'. That is what we're doing.
"But the bottom line is: I don't have extra resources. So if I have to keep those positions in place, I have to take resources from somewhere else within my budget."
A number of reviews into the Deis programme, which were published today, show the initiative is having a positive effect on tackling educational disadvantage.
Two reports from the Inspectorate of the Department of Education and a third by the Educational Research Centre in Drumcondra reveal gains in the literacy and numeracy levels in Deis primary schools.
The reports highlight a number of other encouraging findings including improvements in attendence levels.
Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte recently led a delegation of TDs who asked Mr Quinn to reverse the planned cutbacks.
Yesterday, a Private Members bill to reverse the cuts was defeated in the Dáil by 85 votes to 42.
While welcoming Mr Quinn's admission of a mistake over the cuts Fianna Fáil questioned the substance of the Deis review.
"People should not be fooled into thinking that Minister Quinn has announced a full reversal of the cuts to resources for Deis schools. He has not. What he has said is that his officials will review the cuts on a case by case basis," said the party's education spokesman Brendan Smith.
"There is no clarity on what this actually means for Deis schools, and whether or not it will result in any school being allowed to keep any of the teaching posts they are due to lose," he added.
People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd-Barrett also called on Mr Quinn to clarify if his "mistake" admission means a full and immediate reversal of all Deis cuts.
The Deis scheme was introduced in 2005. Over €158 million is being made available this year to provide additional teaching and other resources and supports for primary and second level schools included in Deis.
In all, 670 primary and 195 post primary schools are currently included in the School Support Programme under the initiative
