Rape cases now take 13 months to get a trial date, according to statistics released by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue.
He informed Mr Charles Flanagan (FG) in a written reply that this was because of the number of rape cases have more than doubled since 1996. That year the Central Criminal Court received 48 cases, compared to 130 in 1999.
Mr O'Donoghue said he was not satisfied with the waiting period - an additional High Court judge had been appointed.