New research has shown.
About 115,000 people in Ireland have had 'long Covid', or will develop it, according to an Oireachtas study.
It's 10 per cent of all cases so far, with nearly 1.2 million positive tests during the pandemic.
Independent TD Denis Naughten says this could cost the state 925 million euro in social welfare payments.
"Long covid is defined as someone experiencing an ongoing illness three months after the first symptom." said Naughten.
"Cognitive function and being able to think clearly is affected.
"These long covid impacts happen irrespective of the severity of covid at the onset," he added.
Naughten said that women are also more likely to suffer from long covid.
"People need to be diagnosed and treated for the condition.
"At the same time we don't want to create unnecessary concern," he added.
Denis Naughten Independent TD for Roscommon/Galway spoke with Ciara Noble on Friday's Kildare Focus: