HOW TO HIRE · CARE & SUPPORT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire an overnight carer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
An overnight care in Ireland costs €120–€260 per night, typically around €180. 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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THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring an overnight carer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers overnight carer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — companionship and Supervision — overnight care includes companionship to alleviate feelings of loneliness and provide emotional support.
- How does caregiver's experience change the price?Training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does client's specific needs change the price?What you pick at the start sets most of the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does medication Management change the price?It is the detail most people forget to mention when asking. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Overnight care typically does not cover tasks such as household cleaning, meal preparation, or transportation — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a overnight 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 overnight carer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — companionship and Supervision — overnight care includes companionship to alleviate feelings of loneliness and provide emotional support.
A good answer: Training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: What you pick at the start sets most of the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It is the detail most people forget to mention when asking. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Overnight care typically does not cover tasks such as household cleaning, meal preparation, or transportation — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a overnight 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 — emergency Response — trained caregivers are prepared to respond to emergencies, such as falls or sudden health changes.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the overnight carer starts, and an itemised invoice after — personal Care Assistance — overnight care often includes personal care services such as helping clients with bathing, dressing, and grooming.
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 — training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it
- They will not talk about it: client's specific needs — what you pick at the start sets most of the price
- They will not talk about it: medication Management — it is the detail most people forget to mention when asking
- A price for the overnight 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 overnight carer has begun
What an overnight carer costs: €120–€260 per night
The figures are for the job, per night, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Personal care assistance and Medication management each carry their own band. Overnight 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
Overnight 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 firstCaregiver's experience — training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it — that is what the overnight carer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneClient's specific needs — what you pick at the start sets most of the price — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfMedication Management — it is the detail most people forget to mention when asking — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherCaregivers should have relevant qualifications in health and social care, including first aid training — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the overnight carer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, timing can vary based on the client’s needs; overnight care typically covers an 8-12 hour period.
- Personal Care Assistance
- Overnight care often includes personal care services such as helping clients with bathing, dressing, and grooming.
- Emergency Response
- Trained caregivers are prepared to respond to emergencies, such as falls or sudden health changes.
- Companionship and Supervision
- Overnight care includes companionship to alleviate feelings of loneliness and provide emotional support.
- Companionship
- Providing emotional support and companionship to help clients feel secure and less isolated.
- Monitoring Health Conditions
- Observing any changes in health and reporting concerns to family or medical professionals.
- Sleep Hygiene Support
- Assisting clients with routines that promote a restful night's sleep.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring an overnight carer: questions people ask
The cost of overnight care can vary based on factors such as the caregiver's experience, the level of care required, and location. Additional services like specialised medical care or emergency response may also increase the overall price.
Overnight care services usually cover a period of 8 to 12 hours, depending on the client's needs. Some caregivers may offer flexible hours, but standard arrangements typically start in the evening and end in the morning.
For general personal care and companionship, a trained caregiver is sufficient. However, if specialised medical care is required, it is advisable to hire a qualified professional who is trained in specific medical needs.
Many care agencies offer emergency or same-day availability, but this can depend on the caregiver's schedule and demand in your area. It's best to check with local providers for their specific availability.
Overnight care typically does not cover tasks such as household cleaning, meal preparation, or transportation. These services may require separate arrangements or additional fees, depending on the care provider.
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
Overnight 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