Dublin City Council has had to pay their staff almost €3.4m in compensation for injuries they have suffered at work.

Most of the claims were for broken limbs, facial injuries and shoulder and back injuries.

Some 125 staff injury compensation claims were taken since 2012.

In total, 194 claims were received by the council since 2012 - with the highest number, 71, received last year.

The council has paid out more than €11m on compensation claims since then.

However, the figures showed there was an increase in needle-stick injuries.

Some 32 syringes a day are picked up from Dublin streets between the council and a number of groups.

Richard Guiney is from business group Dublin Town.

He says the crews they send out have protective clothing, and are trained to pick up hazardous materials.