asked the Minister for Justice if he will state the number of cases at present awaiting trial in the Circuit Courts in Dublin; if any cases are more than six months awaiting trial; and, if so, how many; if he will also state the steps he has taken to deal with the delay, and when he hopes to have the arrears cleared off.

There are at present about 300 cases awaiting hearing in the Circuit Court in Dublin. Of these about 80 have only just been entered, about 220 others were entered since the beginning of the present year, and two cases were entered a little over six months ago.

Under the present law regulating the number and assignment of Circuit Court Judges it is not possible to take any effective steps towards bringing the work entirely up-to-date, but the matter has not been overlooked in connection with the Courts of Justice Bill which is now practically ready for introduction.