Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has been urged to extend the scheme, which guarantees full pay.
But a HSE spokesperson confirmed the temporary scheme would end on December 31. She said this was in line with a Labour Court recommendation.
Unions have sought a permanent scheme and argued the general sick-pay scheme limits the time staff can remain on full pay.
“There are currently 164 people availing of the Temporary Special Scheme of Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees Unfit for Work Post Covid-19 Infection,” said a HSE spokesperson.
She said the Government had not accepted Covid as an occupational disease
Following the conclusion of the scheme, she said staff who remained unfit to work would transition into the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, “ensuring continuity of care and financial protection”.
The spokesperson said the general sick-pay scheme contained a maximum of 183 days of sick leave at full rate of basic salary plus allowances, if a worker was approved for an extension. This is followed by up to 182 days at half pay.
“The employee may then be eligible for Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration,” said the spokesperson.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has welcomed a decision by the Oireachtas Health Committee to ask Ms Carroll MacNeill to extend the special leave scheme.
INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said the Government had not accepted Covid as an occupational disease, causing injury to healthcare workers suffering from long-Covid because of workplace exposure.
A Covid-19 test. There are 164 people on the scheme after contracting the illness. Stock image: PA
Today’s News in 90 seconds – 31st December
“The Special Leave with Pay Scheme for Healthcare Workers will end on December 31 and these workers, predominantly women, will transition to the Public Sector Sick Leave Scheme which is time-limited and render them with no options for sick leave if they recover and return to work which is their desire,” she said.
“They went to work when there was no Covid vaccine or mask mandates…As a society we were very quick to praise healthcare workers at the height of the pandemic.
“The State must not let them down when they need its support most.”
Meanwhile, Kevin Figgis, head of Siptu health division, told members the Government would not set up a permanent scheme. He said many who developed long-Covid continued to experience significant, life-altering symptoms.
These decisions were deeply disappointing
He said the Government had been forced to extend the special scheme on multiple occasions while the dispute was referred to the Labour Court twice.
Mr Figgis said the court recommended the temporary scheme should come to an end on December 31.
“These decisions were deeply disappointing and have limited the industrial options available at this time,” he said.
He said the “failure of the Government to establish a permanent long-Covid scheme represents a disregard for the sacrifices made by healthcare workers during the pandemic”.
A Department of Health spokesperson said a final extension to the Special Scheme of Paid Leave for eligible Public Health Service Employees with Long-Covid was recommended following a Labour Court hearing in June this year.
She added that ending the scheme today “does not mean that supports will end”.
“Staff who remain unfit to return to work will move seamlessly into the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, ensuring continuity of care and financial protection.”