HOW TO HIRE · CARE & SUPPORT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a respite carer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A respite care in Ireland costs €20–€40 per hour, typically around €28. 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 a respite carer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers respite carer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — meal Preparation — preparing nutritious meals is a key component of respite care.
- How does level of care required change the price?Finish quality is where most of the price difference lives. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does caregiver's experience change the price?Experience costs more per hour and shows in the finish. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of 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 Services — companionship is a vital aspect of respite care, providing emotional support and social interaction — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a respite 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 respite carer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — meal Preparation — preparing nutritious meals is a key component of respite care.
A good answer: Finish quality is where most of the price difference lives. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Experience costs more per hour and shows in the finish. — 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 Services — companionship is a vital aspect of respite care, providing emotional support and social interaction — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a respite 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 Support — respite care often includes assistance with personal hygiene, dressing, and grooming.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the respite carer starts, and an itemised invoice after — companion Respite Care — this service focuses on providing companionship and social interaction for individuals while allowing caregivers time off.
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: level of care required — finish quality is where most of the price difference lives
- They will not talk about it: caregiver's experience — experience costs more per hour and shows in the finish
- They will not talk about it: duration of service — an extra hour on the day is usually charged at the same rate
- A price for the respite 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 respite carer has begun
What a respite carer costs: €20–€40 per hour
Most respite carers quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. In-home respite care and Facility respite care each carry their own band. Respite 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
Respite 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 — finish quality is where most of the price difference lives — that is what the respite carer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneCaregiver's experience — experience costs more per hour and shows in the finish — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDuration of 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 togetherComplexity of the individual's needs — getting this clear up front avoids a change to the price later — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the respite carer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, any specific equipment or materials required — what goes into the job is priced separately from the time.
- Personal Care Support
- Respite care often includes assistance with personal hygiene, dressing, and grooming.
- Companionship Services
- Companionship is a vital aspect of respite care, providing emotional support and social interaction.
- Meal Preparation
- Preparing nutritious meals is a key component of respite care.
- In-home Respite Care
- This involves a caregiver coming to the home to provide personal care and companionship while the primary caregiver takes a break.
- Facility Respite Care
- This service takes place in a care facility where individuals can receive around-the-clock support and social activities.
- Emergency Respite Care
- This type of care is available on short notice, often for urgent situations where immediate support is needed.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a respite carer: questions people ask
The cost of respite care can vary based on the level of care required, the caregiver's experience, and the duration of service. Additional factors include location and whether specialised care is needed.
Respite care sessions can vary in length, typically lasting from a few hours to a full day. The duration often depends on the client's needs and the family's requirements.
While many respite care providers are trained professionals, not all require specialised qualifications. For medical needs or specific conditions, hiring a qualified specialist may be necessary.
Many respite care services offer emergency or same-day availability, but it's advisable to check with providers in advance. Availability can vary based on demand and location.
Respite care generally does not cover medical procedures, heavy housekeeping, or specialised nursing care. It's important to clarify the scope of services with your provider before booking.
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
Respite 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