Poor box used over 1,300 times since 2015

Figures published by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan show the poor box was used 843 times in 2015, 258 times in 2016, and 223 times in the first nine months of this year.

The figures come months after the Courts Service of Ireland revealed that over €1.5 million was paid into the poor box in 2016, partly reversing the stark 40 per cent decline in 2015.

It was widely felt the decline in 2015 heralded the beginning of the end for the poor box, which some in the legal profession would like to scrap.

Legislation to scrap the poor box is in the works, but Mr Flanagan has yet to outline a clear timescale for its implementation.

He said the Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill is “currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel”.

Mr Flanagan added: “It is intended that the legislation will abolish the court poor box and replace it with a statutory reparation fund to provide for a fair, equitable and transparent system of reparation that will apply only to minor offences dealt with by the district court.”