HOW TO HIRE · CARE & SUPPORT

How to hire a shopping assistant in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

A shopping assistance in Ireland costs €18–€45 per visit, 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 shopping assistant in five steps

  1. Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers shopping assistant work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — budgeting and Planning — shopping assistance may also encompass budgeting for shopping trips, helping clients plan their purchases to avoid overspending.
  2. How does complexity of the tasks change the price?It decides whether a specialist is needed at all. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  3. How does duration of the service change the price?A full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  4. How does location change the price?A mobile service brings everything with it, and that costs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  5. What is not included?Clothing and Personal Shopping — assistance with clothing and personal shopping can involve helping clients choose outfits for special occasions or everyday wear — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a shopping assistant 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 →

“Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?”

A good answer: No register covers shopping assistant work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — budgeting and Planning — shopping assistance may also encompass budgeting for shopping trips, helping clients plan their purchases to avoid overspending.

“How does complexity of the tasks change the price?”

A good answer: It decides whether a specialist is needed at all. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does duration of the service change the price?”

A good answer: A full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does location change the price?”

A good answer: A mobile service brings everything with it, and that costs. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“What is not included?”

A good answer: Clothing and Personal Shopping — assistance with clothing and personal shopping can involve helping clients choose outfits for special occasions or everyday wear — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a shopping assistant job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.

“Who insures you, and what is the policy number?”

A good answer: Expect employer's liability and public liability, plus cover for medication handling where that is part of the care — errand Running — shopping assistants can run errands such as picking up prescriptions, buying household supplies, or returning items to stores.

“What do I get in writing, and when?”

A good answer: A written scope and a price before the shopping assistant starts, and an itemised invoice after — grocery Shopping Help — shopping assistance can include accompanying clients to grocery stores, helping them select fresh produce, and assisting with meal planning.

Getting the quote right

  • Complexity of the tasks — it decides whether a specialist is needed at all.
  • Duration of the service — a full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours.
  • Location — a mobile service brings everything with it, and that costs.
  • Complexity of the shopping needs — it is agreed before the work starts, not after.
  • 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: complexity of the tasks — it decides whether a specialist is needed at all
  • They will not talk about it: duration of the service — a full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours
  • They will not talk about it: location — a mobile service brings everything with it, and that costs
  • A price for the shopping assistant 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 shopping assistant has begun
LOW
€18
TYPICAL
€28
HIGH
€45

What a shopping assistant costs: €18–€45 per visit

The figures are for the job, per visit, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Grocery shopping assistance and Clothing and fashion shopping each carry their own band. Shopping 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

Shopping assistants 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.

  1. Look firstComplexity of the tasks — it decides whether a specialist is needed at all — that is what the shopping assistant is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
  2. Agree what is being doneDuration of the service — a full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
  3. The work itselfLocation — a mobile service brings everything with it, and that costs — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
  4. Check it togetherComplexity of the shopping needs — it is agreed before the work starts, not after — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the shopping assistant is still there.
  5. What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, types of products being sourced — what goes into the job is priced separately from the time.

Grocery Shopping Help
Shopping assistance can include accompanying clients to grocery stores, helping them select fresh produce, and assisting with meal planning.
Errand Running
Shopping assistants can run errands such as picking up prescriptions, buying household supplies, or returning items to stores.
Clothing and Personal Shopping
Assistance with clothing and personal shopping can involve helping clients choose outfits for special occasions or everyday wear.
Budgeting and Planning
Shopping assistance may also encompass budgeting for shopping trips, helping clients plan their purchases to avoid overspending.
Clothing and Fashion Shopping
Professionals help clients choose clothing items that fit their style, size, and budget, often providing fashion advice and tips.
Home Goods Shopping
This service includes helping clients select furniture, decor, and appliances that suit their home and lifestyle preferences.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the invoice and the paperworkAn itemised invoice with the trader's name, the work and the total — budgeting and Planning — shopping assistance may also encompass budgeting for shopping trips, helping clients plan their purchases to avoid overspending, because it is what a buyer's solicitor, an insurer or a lender asks for long after the shopping assistant has gone.
Test what was doneClothing and Personal Shopping — assistance with clothing and personal shopping can involve helping clients choose outfits for special occasions or everyday wear — and something that does not work on the day is theirs to put right there and then.
Ask what the guarantee isOn the workmanship and on the parts, and for how long each one runs — they are usually different. errand Running — shopping assistants can run errands such as picking up prescriptions, buying household supplies, or returning items to stores — under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 what was agreed is what can be relied on.
Leave the reviewOnly a booked job can be reviewed on Locufy, which is why the score on a shopping assistant's card means something — grocery Shopping Help — shopping assistance can include accompanying clients to grocery stores, helping them select fresh produce, and assisting with meal planning.

STEP 1Say it in writing, firstSay what is wrong and what you want done. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and defective work put right.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyUnder four stars you are asked whether to send it to the provider first; we follow it through. Then review.
STEP 3Escalate to the body that regulates itThere is no register, so the route is the consumer body and, if needed, the courts.
STEP 4Small claimsSmall claims covers €2,000, once you have asked in writing and given them a chance to put it right.

Hiring a shopping assistant: questions people ask

The cost of shopping assistance can vary based on the complexity of the tasks, the duration of the service, and the location. Additional factors include whether the assistant needs to provide transportation or if specific expertise is required.

A typical shopping assistance session can last from one to three hours, depending on the client's needs and the number of errands to be completed. Longer sessions may be needed for comprehensive shopping trips or detailed planning.

Generally, shopping assistance does not require a qualified specialist. However, if the service involves specific needs such as dietary restrictions or fashion advice, it may be beneficial to choose someone with relevant expertise.

Many shopping assistants offer same-day or emergency services, but availability can vary. It's advisable to check in advance and book as early as possible to secure assistance when needed.

Yes, many shopping assistants can accommodate multiple related jobs in one booking, such as grocery shopping combined with clothing purchases. Discussing your needs upfront can help the assistant plan effectively.

Shopping assistance usually does not cover services like heavy lifting, assembling furniture, or specialised tasks that require professional qualifications. Clarifying the scope of service with your assistant can help set clear expectations.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in care & support

How to hire: Elderly CareHow to hire: Live-In CarerHow to hire: Home Care AssistantHow to hire: Personal Care AssistantHow to hire: Companion CareHow to hire: Respite CareHow to hire: Dementia CareHow to hire: Palliative CareAll 701 hiring guides →

Shopping assistants near you

Shopping assistants in DublinShopping assistants in CorkShopping assistants in GalwayShopping assistants in LimerickAll shopping assistants on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. Department of Health — Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 passes both Houses
  2. HIQA — evidence review on homecare and home support services
  3. HSE — Home Support Authorisation Scheme service specifications
  4. CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
  5. Consumer Rights Act 2022
  6. Revenue — NURSING AGENCY — Standard rate
  7. Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
  8. Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only