Court waiting times down in 2005, says report
The Courts Service has today reported a reduction in the waiting times for cases to be heard in the Irish courts.
In its latest annual report, the service says cases in the Supreme Court were being heard within seven months in 2005, compared to waiting times of between five and seven years a decade ago.
In the Central Criminal Court, meanwhile, waiting times are down to just under six months, compared to two years in 2001.
The Courts Service is attributing the reduction to the appointment of extra judges, of which there are currently 133.
Elsewhere in today's report, the service says the number of rape and murder cases being heard by the Central Criminal Court rose by 10% and 25% respectively last year.
The number of divorce applications, meanwhile, was up 200 during 2005, while asylum and immigration applications for a judicial review were up by 35% to 1,863.
