HOW TO HIRE · CARE & SUPPORT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a special needs carer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A special needs care in Ireland costs €22–€42 per hour, typically around €30. 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 special needs carer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers special needs carer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — health and Medical Monitoring — caregivers may assist with medication management and health monitoring.
- 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 caregiver's qualifications change the price?Reputation is the reason two quotes for one job differ so much. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of service change the price?The time agreed is what the quote is built on. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Social and Recreational Activities — support in engaging with social and recreational activities is vital for emotional well-being — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a special needs 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
No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. 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 special needs carer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — health and Medical Monitoring — caregivers may assist with medication management and health monitoring.
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: Reputation is the reason two quotes for one job differ so much. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The time agreed is what the quote is built on. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Social and Recreational Activities — support in engaging with social and recreational activities is vital for emotional well-being — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a special needs 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 — educational Support — special needs care often involves educational assistance, including tutoring and homework help.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the special needs carer starts, and an itemised invoice after — personal Care Assistance — this includes help with daily activities such as 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: level of care required — the standard you ask for decides how long it takes to reach
- They will not talk about it: caregiver's qualifications — reputation is the reason two quotes for one job differ so much
- They will not talk about it: duration of service — the time agreed is what the quote is built on
- A price for the special needs 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 special needs carer has begun
What a special needs carer costs: €22–€42 per hour
Most special needs carers quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Personal care assistance and Companionship services each carry their own band. Special Needs 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
Special needs 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 special needs carer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneCaregiver's qualifications — reputation is the reason two quotes for one job differ so much — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDuration of service — the time agreed is what the quote is built on — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherLevel of support required — what you pick at the start sets most of the price — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the special needs carer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, complexity of the individual's needs — it decides whether a specialist is needed at all.
- Personal Care Assistance
- This includes help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and grooming.
- Educational Support
- Special needs care often involves educational assistance, including tutoring and homework help.
- Social and Recreational Activities
- Support in engaging with social and recreational activities is vital for emotional well-being.
- Health and Medical Monitoring
- Caregivers may assist with medication management and health monitoring.
- Companionship Services
- Care providers offer emotional support and companionship, helping clients engage in social activities and reduce feelings of isolation.
- Meal Preparation and Nutrition Support
- Professionals assist with planning and preparing meals that meet dietary needs and preferences, promoting health and wellness.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a special needs carer: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the level of care required, the caregiver's qualifications, and the duration of service. Specialised skills or training may increase the hourly rate.
Sessions can vary in length, typically ranging from 1 to 8 hours depending on the individual's needs and the type of care required. It's advisable to discuss specific requirements with the caregiver.
While general caregivers can provide basic support, a qualified specialist may be necessary for more complex needs, especially if medical or therapeutic interventions are required. Caregivers should have relevant qualifications, such as certifications in special needs care or first aid.
Many providers offer same-day services, but availability can vary. It's best to contact providers directly to inquire about their emergency service options.
Yes, many caregivers can accommodate multiple tasks during a single visit, such as personal care and educational support. Discussing your requirements upfront can help streamline the process.
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
Special needs 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 — CHILDCARE - CHILD PROTECTION (Children and education) — Exempt
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only