Recruitment Agency Register

Official online lookupHas not ratified ILO C181

Recruitment agency licensing in Ireland

Licensing authority: The Minister (Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment) grants licences. The Licensing Section of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) handles applications, renewals and enquiries.1,2

How to check an agency in Ireland

The WRC publishes a list of licensed employment agencies as a PDF. The version checked was dated 1 April 2026.3

Open the official lookup

Who needs a licence

Section 2 of the Employment Agency Act 1971 says a person shall not carry on the business of an employment agency except under a licence. The Employment Agency (Exemption) Order 1972 exempts certain not for profit bodies that charge no fee, such as disability organisations, education and training bodies placing their own students, charities and trade unions.2,1

Fees charged to workers

Under section 7 of the Act an agency shall not charge fees or expenses above a scale approved by the Minister, and may not charge a fee solely for agreeing to seek employment for another person.2

Licence conditions

Licences are renewed every year, with an annual fee of 500 euro. The Minister must be satisfied that the applicant is of good character and repute, which is checked through references and Garda vetting. WRC inspectors may inspect premises and records.1

Reporting an unlicensed agency

The WRC Licensing Section can be contacted at licensing@workplacerelations.ie or +353 59 917 8990. WRC inspectors check compliance.1

ILO Private Employment Agencies Convention (C181)

Not ratified4

Main law

Checked 28 October 2026. This page describes the licensing system. It does not list or rate individual agencies.

Sources

  1. Workplace Relations Commission, Employment agencies
  2. Law Reform Commission, Employment Agency Act 1971 (revised)
  3. Workplace Relations Commission, List of licensed Employment Agencies (1 April 2026)
  4. Government of the Netherlands, Treaty Database, Convention concerning Private Employment Agencies, Geneva, 19-06-1997 (29 January 2026)