HOW TO HIRE · CARE & SUPPORT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a mobility carer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A mobility assistance in Ireland costs €18–€35 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 mobility carer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers mobility carer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — companionship and Support — in addition to physical assistance, mobility support often includes companionship services, providing emotional support and social interaction.
- How does level of care required change the price?The standard you ask for decides how long it takes to reach. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of service change the price?A quick job still has a minimum charge attached. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does provider's experience change the price?The more qualified the person, the higher the rate. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Home Modifications — mobility assistance may involve recommending and overseeing home modifications to enhance accessibility — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a mobility 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 mobility carer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — companionship and Support — in addition to physical assistance, mobility support often includes companionship services, providing emotional support and social interaction.
A good answer: The standard you ask for decides how long it takes to reach. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A quick job still has a minimum charge attached. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The more qualified the person, the higher the rate. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Home Modifications — mobility assistance may involve recommending and overseeing home modifications to enhance accessibility — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a mobility 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 — transportation Services — many mobility assistance providers offer transportation services, helping clients attend medical appointments, social events, or run errands.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the mobility carer starts, and an itemised invoice after — personal Mobility Support — mobility assistance includes helping clients with daily activities such as getting in and out of bed, using the bathroom, and moving around the home.
Getting the quote right
- Level of care required — the standard you ask for decides how long it takes to reach.
- Duration of service — a quick job still has a minimum charge attached.
- Provider's experience — the more qualified the person, the higher the rate.
- Any necessary home modifications — the more of it there is, the longer the job runs.
- 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 — the standard you ask for decides how long it takes to reach
- They will not talk about it: duration of service — a quick job still has a minimum charge attached
- They will not talk about it: provider's experience — the more qualified the person, the higher the rate
- A price for the mobility 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 mobility carer has begun
What a mobility carer costs: €18–€35 per hour
Most mobility 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. Mobility Assistance 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
Mobility 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 firstLevel of care required — the standard you ask for decides how long it takes to reach — that is what the mobility carer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneDuration of service — a quick job still has a minimum charge attached — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfProvider's experience — the more qualified the person, the higher the rate — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherAny necessary home modifications — the more of it there is, the longer the job runs — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the mobility carer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, professionals should have relevant qualifications and experience in mobility assistance and personal care.
- Personal Mobility Support
- Mobility assistance includes helping clients with daily activities such as getting in and out of bed, using the bathroom, and moving around the home.
- Transportation Services
- Many mobility assistance providers offer transportation services, helping clients attend medical appointments, social events, or run errands.
- Home Modifications
- Mobility assistance may involve recommending and overseeing home modifications to enhance accessibility.
- Companionship and Support
- In addition to physical assistance, mobility support often includes companionship services, providing emotional support and social interaction.
- Personal Care Assistance
- This involves helping clients with daily personal hygiene, dressing, and grooming tasks to maintain their dignity and comfort.
- Meal Preparation
- Professionals assist with planning and preparing nutritious meals, taking into account any dietary restrictions or preferences.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a mobility carer: questions people ask
The cost of mobility assistance services can vary based on factors such as the level of care required, the duration of service, and the provider's experience. Additional costs may arise for specialised equipment or transport services.
Mobility assistance sessions can vary in length, typically ranging from one to several hours, depending on the client's needs. Short visits may focus on specific tasks, while longer sessions can provide comprehensive support throughout the day.
Many providers offer emergency or same-day mobility assistance, but availability can vary. It’s advisable to check with local services in advance to understand their capacity for urgent requests.
Yes, many mobility assistance providers allow clients to book multiple related services in one appointment. This can include personal care, transportation, and home modifications, streamlining the process and often reducing overall costs.
Mobility assistance primarily focuses on physical and emotional support for mobility-related needs. Services such as medical care, nursing, or specialised therapy are typically out of scope and should be addressed by qualified healthcare professionals.
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
Mobility 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