The latest annual report from the Courts Service shows a decrease in the number of murder and rape trials but substantial increases in the number of assault cases and divorce applications.
The report for 2003, published today, shows Central Criminal Court heard 39 murder cases compared to 55 in 2002.
The same court received 52 rape cases compared 82 during the previous year, representing a 60 per cent drop in new rape cases.
Rape cases rose from 48 cases in 1996 to a high of 130 cases in both 1998 and 1999.
The report said waiting times at the Central Criminal Court have been reduced and cases "disposed off" have increased substantially, with the court dealing with 63 more cases than it received.
Waiting times have been reduced "by the assigning of four judges full time, by the court operating special sittings in September last and by a concerted effort by the judiciary and staff in the last two years".
Divorce applications granted in the High and Circuit Court were up 15 per cent on last year at 2,970 and up 26 per cent since 1999. 10,432 prison sentences were handed down by District Court while €16 million was collected in fines of which €8.7 million were motor fines.
There was a significant increase in the number of assault cases heard by Dublin District Court, with cases rising to 9,858 - a 68 per cent increase on 2001.
The High Court saw an 87 per cent rise in the numbers of personal and fatal injuries cases compared with 2001.
In the Supreme Court there was a 25 per cent increase in the numbers of appeals dealt with compared to 2001. In the same period there has been a 60 per cent increase of cases disposed of in the Court of Criminal Appeal.
Supreme Court Judge and Chairperson of the Courts Service Board, the Honorable Mrs Justice Susan Denham said: "The work of the courts is increasing.
"The total number of matters dealt with by the courts in 2003 was nearly 800,000, this is an increase of over 100,000 on the previous year."
Referring to a recent paper she published indicating that the State had the lowest number of judges amongst 31 European and Common Law countries examined, she said a comprehensive approach needs to be taken in examining the number of judges needed.
"Work needs to be done on this matter, if we are not always to be playing catch up."
