The number of prosecutions for rape or sexual assault have more than doubled over the past 10 years.

Nearly 2,500 cases have been sent forward for court proceedings since 2009.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has released details of the number of cases of rape and sexual assault that it has brought to court in recent years.

In 2009, 146 cases were directed for prosecution - and there has been a gradual increase since then.

There were 298 cases last year - 101 for rape offences and 198 for sexual assault.

They involve 311 suspects.

Source: Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

So far this year, 233 cases have been directed for prosecution with 256 suspects.

Noeline Blackwell is chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.

She says the rising number of prosecutions is welcome.

"The rise is certainly welcome - it is still rising from a very small base.

"Maybe seven or eight years ago there were less than 60 cases being taken for rape - in recent years, that's more like 100.

"That's not a huge increase and it certainly doesn't represent the level at which people are telling us they're suffering rape and sexual abuse, and it doesn't reflect what people are telling the Guards".

Rape trials are held in the Central Criminal Court.

The Courts Service say the average waiting times for these hearings stands at 11 months.

Reporting by Eoghan Murphy