HOW TO HIRE · CARE & SUPPORT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a live-in carer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A live-in carer in Ireland costs €680–€1,200 per week, typically around €900. 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.
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- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a live-in carer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers live-in carer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — household Support — in addition to personal care, live-in carers often assist with light household tasks, such as meal preparation, laundry, and cleaning.
- How does level of care required change the price?A higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does carer's qualifications change the price?A provider who guarantees the work prices that guarantee in. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of the service 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?Companionship and Social Interaction — A live-in carer offers companionship, engaging clients in conversation, activities, and outings — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a live-in 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. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
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. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
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 live-in carer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — household Support — in addition to personal care, live-in carers often assist with light household tasks, such as meal preparation, laundry, and cleaning.
A good answer: A higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A provider who guarantees the work prices that guarantee in. — 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: Companionship and Social Interaction — A live-in carer offers companionship, engaging clients in conversation, activities, and outings — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a live-in 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 Care Assistance — live-in carers provide essential personal care, including assistance with bathing, dressing, and grooming.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the live-in carer starts, and an itemised invoice after — household Support Worker — handles light housekeeping duties, meal preparation, and laundry to maintain a clean and safe living environment.
Getting the quote right
- Level of care required — a higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit.
- Carer's qualifications — a provider who guarantees the work prices that guarantee in.
- Duration of the service — an extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate.
- Specific needs of the client — the grade chosen is the single biggest decision in the quote.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: level of care required — a higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit
- They will not talk about it: carer's qualifications — a provider who guarantees the work prices that guarantee in
- They will not talk about it: duration of the service — an extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate
- A price for the live-in 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 live-in carer has begun
What a live-in carer costs: €680–€1,200 per week
The figures are for the job, per week, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Personal care assistant and Companionship provider each carry their own band. Live-In Carer 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
Live-in 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.
- Look firstLevel of care required — a higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit — that is what the live-in carer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneCarer's qualifications — a provider who guarantees the work prices that guarantee in — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDuration of the service — 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 togetherSpecific needs of the client — the grade chosen is the single biggest decision in the quote — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the live-in carer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, location — the journey is paid for whether the job takes an hour or a day.
- Personal Care Assistance
- Live-in carers provide essential personal care, including assistance with bathing, dressing, and grooming.
- Companionship and Social Interaction
- A live-in carer offers companionship, engaging clients in conversation, activities, and outings.
- Household Support
- In addition to personal care, live-in carers often assist with light household tasks, such as meal preparation, laundry, and cleaning.
- Companionship Provider
- Offers emotional support and social interaction, helping to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
- Household Support Worker
- Handles light housekeeping duties, meal preparation, and laundry to maintain a clean and safe living environment.
- Call-out
- A fixed charge for turning up, separate from the work itself. On a short live-in carer job it is often most of the bill, so ask whether the first hour is inside it.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a live-in carer: questions people ask
The cost of a live-in carer can vary based on factors such as the level of care required, the carer's qualifications, and the duration of the service. Additional needs, like specialised care for medical conditions, may also affect pricing.
Live-in carers can be hired for varying durations, from short-term arrangements to long-term support. The duration often depends on the client's needs and can be discussed during the initial consultation.
For complex medical needs, it is advisable to hire a qualified specialist who has the necessary training and certifications. General carers can handle daily assistance but may not be equipped for specialised medical tasks.
While many agencies aim to accommodate urgent requests, availability can vary. It's best to inquire about same-day or emergency services in advance, as this may depend on current staffing levels.
Yes, it is often possible to arrange multiple services, such as live-in care alongside respite care for family members. Discussing your specific needs with the care agency can help tailor the services to your situation.
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.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in care & support
Live-in 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