This is a question you should certainly ask yourself before taking on an Au pair. After all, not all Au pair placements work out. The reasons for occasional incompatibility are as diverse as people themselves but you should keep in mind some of the factors below before approaching us to find the right Au pair for you.

Hosting an Au pair means you have to let her become part of your family, in other words, your Au pair has to be treated like an adult daughter in the house. You have to include your Au pair in your day-to-day family activities. As this is a cultural exchange programme, you have to ensure that your Au pair gets every opportunity to learn about Irish society and culture as well as to improve her English while she is here.

According to the agreement, your Au pair should have two days off per week, usually Saturday and Sunday, but at least Sunday and one other free day.

Again, this is negotiable between Au pairs and their own host families. The agreement between host family and Au pair stipulates, however, that a minimum of one and a half days per month should be available as free days, on top of her weekly free days.

The Au pair will help and assist you for anything between 20 and 35 hours per week. Her duties will be primarily childcare related duties but she would also help you with light housework. The emphasis is on light. Whatever you would ask your adult daughter to help you with is what you can ask your Au pair as well. Remember: this is a cultural exchange programme and the Au pair is not here as a chef, gardener or cleaner. If possible, the Au pair should be provided with a schedule and timetable which should be agreed between Au pair and host family at the start of the Au pair's stay.

The pocket money we ask our host families to pay the aupair is a minimum of €110 per week.  As the average hours our host families ask their Au pair to be on duty lie between 22 and 30 hours per week – and a weekly €54 deduction is applicable for room and board – the approximate pocket money would amount to anything between €110 and €160 per week.

First of all, it is rare that an Au pair and her host family do not run into a few problems here and there. The vast majority of these, however, are just that: small problems which can easily be resolved by a short, frank discussion of the reason why the problem has occurred in the first place.