HOW TO HIRE · CHILDCARE & FAMILY · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a holiday club in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A holiday childcare in Ireland costs €30–€70 per day, typically around €45. 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 holiday club in five steps
- Are you on the Tusla register of childminding services, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — outdoor Activities — outdoor play is a key component of holiday childcare, with many services including trips to parks or nature walks.
- How does age of the children change the price?Age brings small faults that each take a few minutes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does types of activities included change the price?The grade chosen is the single biggest decision in the quote. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of care change the price?An extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Flexible Hours — providers typically offer flexible hours to accommodate parents' schedules — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a holiday club job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
Tusla Early Years Inspectorate — childminding registration
The childminding regulations apply only to a childminder caring for children in the CHILDMINDER'S OWN HOME.
Search the Tusla register of childminding services for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. tusla.ie →
Where the rules stand now
A childminder caring for 3 or fewer pre-school children, and 6 or fewer children in total, remains exempt for the transitional period. Registration becomes mandatory from September 2027. Registration is not yet mandatory for every childminder. Ask whether this childminder is registered, and if not, whether they fall inside the transitional exemption — both answers are legitimate in 2026.
Ask where they are in the process, and when they expect to be registered — the date is September 2027 either way. tusla.ie →
Garda vetting
National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012–2016 The regulation requiring vetting of household members aged 16 and over commenced on 1 February 2025. Vetting is carried out through a relevant organisation, not by a parent directly. Ask to see the disclosure the childminder holds.
Ask to see the garda vetting letter itself, with its date on it — not a statement that one exists.
Insurance
Expect public liability covering minding in the home; ask to see it. 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
No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. 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: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — outdoor Activities — outdoor play is a key component of holiday childcare, with many services including trips to parks or nature walks.
A good answer: Age brings small faults that each take a few minutes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The grade chosen is the single biggest decision in the quote. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: An extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Flexible Hours — providers typically offer flexible hours to accommodate parents' schedules — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a holiday club job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability covering minding in the home; ask to see it — meal Provision — many holiday childcare services offer meal provision as part of their package.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the holiday club starts, and an itemised invoice after — supervised Activities — holiday childcare often includes supervised activities such as arts and crafts, sports, and group games.
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 are not on the Tusla register of childminding services, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
- They will not talk about it: age of the children — age brings small faults that each take a few minutes
- They will not talk about it: types of activities included — the grade chosen is the single biggest decision in the quote
- They will not talk about it: duration of care — an extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate
- A price for the holiday club 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
What a holiday club costs: €30–€70 per day
The figures are for the job, per day, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Full-day holiday care and Part-time holiday care each carry their own band. Holiday Childcare 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
Holiday clubs 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.
- Look firstAge of the children — age brings small faults that each take a few minutes — that is what the holiday club is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneTypes of activities included — the grade chosen is the single biggest decision in the quote — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDuration of care — an extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherMeal Provision — it is worth being specific about when you ask for a price — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the holiday club is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, check for safety certifications and background checks to guarantee a secure environment.
- Supervised Activities
- Holiday childcare often includes supervised activities such as arts and crafts, sports, and group games.
- Meal Provision
- Many holiday childcare services offer meal provision as part of their package.
- Flexible Hours
- Providers typically offer flexible hours to accommodate parents' schedules.
- Outdoor Activities
- Outdoor play is a key component of holiday childcare, with many services including trips to parks or nature walks.
- Full-Day Holiday Care
- Comprehensive care for children throughout the day, including meals, playtime, and educational activities.
- Part-Time Holiday Care
- Flexible childcare options for shorter periods, catering to parents' varying schedules during holidays.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a holiday club: questions people ask
The cost of holiday childcare can vary based on location, the age of the children, and the types of activities included. Services that offer more structured programming or additional amenities may charge higher rates.
Most holiday childcare services operate on a full-day basis, typically lasting 6-8 hours, but many also offer half-day options. The duration you choose may affect the overall cost.
Emergency or same-day availability can vary by provider. Some services may offer last-minute bookings, while others might require advance notice. It’s best to inquire directly with the provider.
Yes, many childcare providers allow you to book multiple days or sessions together, which can sometimes result in a discounted rate. It's advisable to discuss this with the provider to confirm availability and pricing.
Out of scope services may include specialised educational support, medical care, or transportation to and from activities. Always check with the provider to understand what is included in the service package.
Search the name or the registration number. If the number does not resolve to the name on the quote, stop there.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in childcare & family
Holiday clubs near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Tusla — childminding registration opened 30 September 2024
- Tusla — childminding services FAQs
- Department of Children — new regulations for childminding
- National Action Plan for Childminding 2021–2028
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — CHILDMINDING (Children and education) — Exempt
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only