Employing a house keeper

I am looking to get a housekeeper on a weekly basis for a few hours.
If I employ him/her directly, I presume that I become an " employer" and have to pay PRSI and stuff like that.
If I go through an agency, who provides the service to me, would I be free of that headache?
I am contacting my insurance to make sure my policy covers it.
I do not want to do this under the counter. Someone I know, who had the same housekeeper for years, was caught stealing, but they could not sack her as she threatened to go to revenue about unpaid prsi!

Are you talking a few hours a day or a few hours a week? What kind of thing would you be expecting them to do? General cleaning or shopping, food preparation etc? I have a wonderful lady who comes for two hours a week and cleans side to side (would be top-to-bottom but I live in a bungalow! ) I pay her in her hand - worked for me for the last 12 months, with no complaints - she came recommended from a friend. I would have thought that technically the housekeeper/cleaner would be self-employed and responsible for their own deductions.

Word of mouth is brilliant for finding a reliable, trustworthy individual. If you're in a large town/city check out an agency if you'd feel safer.