HOW TO HIRE · MARKETING, DESIGN & TECH · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a network engineer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A network engineer in Ireland costs €60–€180 per hour, typically around €100. 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 network engineer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers network engineer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — network Security — implementing security protocols is a critical task for network engineers.
- How does engineer's expertise change the price?Insurance and registration are built into a professional's price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does project complexity change the price?A complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does size of the network change the price?A bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Troubleshooting & Support — network engineers provide ongoing support and troubleshooting services to resolve connectivity issues — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a network engineer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO MECHANICS IN IRELAND — anyone may repair a car. The statutory thing is the NCT, which is carried out by the national testing service and not by a garage, so a garage cannot issue one. SIMI membership is a trade association rather than a licence, and it gives you a complaints route.
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
Motor trade insurance covering your car while it is in their custody, which is separate from their public liability; A written estimate before work starts, and a call before any extra work; Whether parts are new, reconditioned or used, named on the invoice; The guarantee on parts and on labour, separately, in writing; Whether diagnosis is charged separately and whether it is credited against the repair; For a pre-purchase inspection, that the inspector is independent of the seller.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability and motor trade cover for vehicles in their custody. 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.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced 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 network engineer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — network Security — implementing security protocols is a critical task for network engineers.
A good answer: Insurance and registration are built into a professional's price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Troubleshooting & Support — network engineers provide ongoing support and troubleshooting services to resolve connectivity issues — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a network engineer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability and motor trade cover for vehicles in their custody — cloud Networking Solutions — focuses on integrating cloud services into existing networks, enabling remote access and scalability.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the network engineer starts, and an itemised invoice after — network Security Assessment — involves evaluating a network's security protocols and measures to identify vulnerabilities and recommend improvements.
Getting the quote right
- Engineer's expertise — insurance and registration are built into a professional's price.
- Project complexity — a complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts.
- Size of the network — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary.
- Condition of existing infrastructure — years of use leave more to put right than a recent job.
- 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: engineer's expertise — insurance and registration are built into a professional's price
- They will not talk about it: project complexity — a complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts
- They will not talk about it: size of the network — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary
- A price for the network engineer 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 network engineer has begun
What a network engineer costs: €60–€180 per hour
Most network engineers quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Network design and Network installation each carry their own band. Network Engineer 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
Network engineers 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 firstEngineer's expertise — insurance and registration are built into a professional's price — that is what the network engineer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneProject complexity — a complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfSize of the network — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherCondition of existing infrastructure — years of use leave more to put right than a recent job — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the network engineer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, complexity of the requested work — a complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts.
- Troubleshooting & Support
- Network engineers provide ongoing support and troubleshooting services to resolve connectivity issues.
- Network Security
- Implementing security protocols is a critical task for network engineers.
- Network Design
- Involves creating a blueprint for a network that meets the specific needs of a client, considering factors like scale, security, and performance.
- Network Security Assessment
- Involves evaluating a network's security protocols and measures to identify vulnerabilities and recommend improvements.
- Cloud Networking Solutions
- Focuses on integrating cloud services into existing networks, enabling remote access and scalability.
- Call-out
- A fixed charge for turning up, separate from the work itself. On a short network engineer 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 network engineer: questions people ask
Costs can vary based on the engineer's expertise, project complexity, and location. specialised skills in areas like network security or cloud services typically command higher rates.
The duration of a network setup can range from a few hours for small environments to several days for larger, more complex networks. Factors such as the size of the business and specific requirements play a significant role.
For basic networking tasks, a general network engineer may suffice. However, for specialised needs like cybersecurity or advanced infrastructure, hiring a qualified specialist is advisable.
Many network engineers offer emergency support services, but availability can vary. It's best to inquire directly with the engineer or service provider to confirm same-day support options.
Yes, many network engineers can handle multiple tasks in a single visit. This can be more efficient and may also lead to cost savings.
Network engineers generally focus on network design, configuration, and troubleshooting. Tasks such as hardware repairs, software development, or services unrelated to networking may fall outside their scope.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in marketing, design & tech
Network engineers near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — MOTOR VEHICLES - REPAIRS (Certain repair and related services) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only