The State’s health watchdog is assessing whether boys should be vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), a highly contagious virus spread through sexual contact.

The State’s employment rights watchdog had a 20% increase in the number of calls to its customer service line last year and also increased the number of prosecutions carried out against employers.

The amount of money given by the Government to councils for national road improvements has been cut by half in a year, the State’s financial watchdog has revealed.