HOW TO HIRE · CARE & SUPPORT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a companion carer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A companion care in Ireland costs €18–€32 per hour, typically around €25. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a companion carer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers companion carer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — transportation Support — companion care services may offer transportation to appointments, social events, or errands.
- How does caregiver's experience change the price?Insurance and registration are built into a professional's price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the care required change the price?Unusual work is quoted higher because it cannot be estimated from habit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does location change the price?Being far from the main towns narrows the choice and lifts the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Assistance with Daily Activities — caregivers can assist with daily tasks such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, and personal hygiene — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a companion carer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
THERE IS NO STATUTORY REGISTER OF HOME CARE PROVIDERS IN IRELAND YET, and that is the single most important thing to know before hiring one. HIQA has said plainly that home care and support services are not statutorily regulated. The Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 passed both Houses of the Oireachtas in 2026 and amends the Health Act 2007 to create HIQA registration, a public register, an appeals process and transitional arrangements, and to make providing a home support service without registration an OFFENCE. It is not yet in force — the commencement date is not published and HIQA's national standards for home support are still in development. So in 2026 the checks below are the protection, not a register.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Whether they hold an HSE Home Support Authorisation — the HSE's own scheme has service specifications, which is the nearest thing to an external standard today; Garda vetting for every individual carer, with dates; Employer's liability and public liability insurance, and whether carers are employees or contractors — it decides who is liable and who covers sickness; What happens when the regular carer is ill or on holiday, in writing; The care plan, in writing, and who reviews it and how often; References from two current families.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Garda vetting
National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012–2016 Vetting is mandatory for work with vulnerable adults and is obtained through a relevant organisation, not by a family. Ask to see the disclosure and its date for EVERY carer who will come, not just the manager.
Ask to see the garda vetting letter itself, with its date on it — not a statement that one exists.
Insurance
Expect employer's liability and public liability, plus cover for medication handling where that is part of the care. You are booking an individual for a set number of hours, so ask whether the ID has been checked and what the rating is from people who booked the same way — there is no company behind them to carry either.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. An individual working under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge VAT at all, and does not have a VAT number to give you.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers companion carer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — transportation Support — companion care services may offer transportation to appointments, social events, or errands.
A good answer: Insurance and registration are built into a professional's price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Unusual work is quoted higher because it cannot be estimated from habit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Being far from the main towns narrows the choice and lifts the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Assistance with Daily Activities — caregivers can assist with daily tasks such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, and personal hygiene — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a companion carer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect employer's liability and public liability, plus cover for medication handling where that is part of the care — personal Companionship — companion care often includes providing social interaction and companionship to seniors or individuals with disabilities.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the companion carer starts, and an itemised invoice after — transportation Assistance — providing transport to appointments, social events, or grocery shopping as needed.
Booking by the hour
- The rate per hour, and whether it changes in the evening or at a weekend
- The minimum booking, and what happens if the job finishes early
- What they bring and what you supply
- Whether the ID has been checked, and the rating from people who booked the same way
- Insurance, where the work can damage something or somebody
- The hours and the list of what is to be done, agreed before the first one
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: caregiver's experience — insurance and registration are built into a professional's price
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the care required — unusual work is quoted higher because it cannot be estimated from habit
- They will not talk about it: location — being far from the main towns narrows the choice and lifts the price
- A price for the companion carer before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the companion carer has begun
What a companion carer costs: €18–€32 per hour
Most companion carers quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Personal care assistance and Meal preparation each carry their own band. Companion Care price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Companion carers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.
- Look firstCaregiver's experience — insurance and registration are built into a professional's price — that is what the companion carer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the care required — unusual work is quoted higher because it cannot be estimated from habit — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfLocation — being far from the main towns narrows the choice and lifts the price — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherFrequency of visits — it decides whether the work can be done in one go — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the companion carer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, client's specific needs — the standard you ask for decides how long it takes to reach.
- Personal Companionship
- Companion care often includes providing social interaction and companionship to seniors or individuals with disabilities.
- Assistance with Daily Activities
- Caregivers can assist with daily tasks such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, and personal hygiene.
- Transportation Support
- Companion care services may offer transportation to appointments, social events, or errands.
- Personal Care Assistance
- Assistance with daily personal hygiene tasks such as bathing, grooming, and dressing.
- Meal Preparation
- Planning and preparing nutritious meals according to dietary requirements and preferences.
- Medication Management
- Reminding clients to take their medications on time and monitoring adherence.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a companion carer: questions people ask
The cost of companion care can vary based on factors such as the caregiver's experience, the complexity of the care required, and the location. Typically, more specialised services or caregivers with extensive training may command higher rates.
Companion care sessions can vary in length, often ranging from a couple of hours to full-day support. The duration largely depends on the individual's needs and the specific services requested.
Companion care generally does not require a qualified specialist, as it focuses on non-medical support. However, if medical assistance is needed, a qualified healthcare professional may be necessary.
Many companion care providers offer emergency or same-day services, though availability may vary. It's advisable to check with local providers for their specific policies and capacity.
Yes, many companion care providers allow you to book multiple related services, such as transportation and meal preparation. This can often be more convenient and may even result in cost savings.
Companion care usually excludes medical care, such as administering medications or performing medical procedures. It primarily focuses on non-medical support and companionship.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in care & support
Companion carers near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Department of Health — Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 passes both Houses
- HIQA — evidence review on homecare and home support services
- HSE — Home Support Authorisation Scheme service specifications
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — NURSING AGENCY — Standard rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only