The health body known as NPHET is set to be scrapped by the middle of October in a move which could signal the end of the pandemic emergency.
It comes as over 90% of the adult population is forecast to be fully vaccinated by the middle of next month, when so-called herd immunity will be reached.
It has also emerged that workers are set to return to the office in phases, starting around the third week into September.
While it is understood that Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan will return to his normal duties at the Department of Health, a team of experts will still be on standby to give advice but the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) will be disbanded.
The Department of Health reported a further 1,997 cases on Saturday with 324 people in hospital – an increase of two in ICU.
HSE chief Paul Reid said: “The finishing line of this phase of the vaccination programme is so close now. Almost 88% of adults fully vaccinated and 92% partially.”
Meanwhile the chairman of the vaccination taskforce has said it is likely that 90% of over 18s will be fully vaccinated in around three weeks time.
Prof Brian MacCraith said 87.8% of over 18s have received two doses and 91.7% of this age cohort have received one dose.
He told RTÉ’s Brendan O’Connor programme, he said we are now at the “last mile” of the vaccination programme and that the “emergency phase” of the rollout will finish at the end of September.
He also revealed that pop-up Covid-19 vaccination clinics are to be rolled out in areas of the country with low vaccine uptake.
He said that the uptake among the 12-15-year-olds is slower, with about 50% having come forward for vaccination so far.
He expects that this will reach about 60%, and he said he believes the lower uptake in this category is due to the need for dialogue with parents.
Prof McCraith disclosed that after Malta, Ireland has the highest vaccination acceptance rate in Europe.
Prof MacCraith said: “I think it’s an educated population, I think people trusted the science, they trusted the public health advice. I think the media, public service media, ensured there was good quality information out there.”
While the gradual return to normal has been welcomed some experts are also warning there could be a resurgence of the Delta Variant even with 90% of the population vaccinated.
They point to Israel which has among the world’s highest levels of vaccination for Covid-19, with 78% of those 12 and older fully vaccinated.
