64 Mr. Collins asked the Minister for Justice the court which had the greatest number of criminal cases awaiting trial on indictment at a future date as of 31 July 1996; the number of cases which were disposed of during special court sittings in September 1996; the number of newly appointed Circuit Court judges who presided over criminal trials in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in September 1996; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18381/96]

78 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for Justice the number of criminal cases disposed of before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in September 1995 and September 1996. [18380/96]

78 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for Justice the number of criminal cases disposed of before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in September 1995 and September 1996. [18380/96]

100 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Justice the number of criminal cases which were awaiting trial at a future date before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 31 July 1996; the number of criminal cases listed before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for trial in September 1996; and the number of criminal cases awaiting trial at a future date before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 30 September 1996. [18379/96]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 78 and 100 together.

The number of criminal cases which were awaiting trial at a future date before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 31 July and 30 September, 1996 is not readily available and could only be compiled by the allocation of scarce resources from other important tasks.

I can, however, inform the Deputy of the number of criminal cases, with effect from a current date, which are awaiting trial at a future date, With effect from 11 October last the relevant number was 260. The number of criminal cases awaiting trial at a future date before the Circuit Court in all counties except Dublin, as of 31 July 1996, is available and is set out in the following schedule.

On this basis it is estimated that Dublin Circuit Court had the greatest number of criminal cases awaiting trial on indictment at a future date as of 31 July 1996.

The numbers of civil, criminal and family law cases disposed of during the special sittings of the Circuit Court in September 1996 were 228, 40 and 238, respectively.

There were no criminal cases disposed of in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in September 1995 or September 1996 as there were no sittings of the Dublin Circuit Court in September 1995 and, while I did obtain the agreement of the President of the Circuit Court to hold sittings of that Court in September 1996, there were no criminal cases listed for trial at the September 1996 sittings of the Dublin Circuit Court.

Number of criminal cases awaiting hearing in the Circuit Court as of 31 July 1996.