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The poor box is a facility in courts where judges can decide not to give an offender a fine and request a donation to charity instead.

The Irish Times is reporting today that €2 million has been collected nationally amongst 700 charities in 2012 from monies donated in the courts. It also stated that Kerry courts account for €571,000 or a quarter of all these poor box monies. It is at the discretion of the judge as to which charities receives the donations. Sightsavers International and the Christian Blind Mission received €60,000 respectively.

The practice of giving to ‘poor boxes’ is not regulated nor is it provided for in law. It predates the foundation of the state which was adopted from the British regime.

Should it be better regulated with regard to when the ‘poor box’ should be applied; what is the level of the fine; and which charity should the monies be donated to?