asked the Minister for Justice if he will state the amount paid into and out of the court poor box in the Dublin Metropolitan District during 1948, and the amount in the box on the 1st January, 1949.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Court Poor Box Payments (Dublin).
The administration of the charitable fund that is popularly known as the court "poor box" is under the direct control of the metropolitan justices and does not come within the purview of my Department.
I have no official information with regard to the payments into or out of the fund, my responsibility being limited to seeing that fines and penalties imposed by the court are properly disposed of and accounted for.
In view of the fact that a large number of offenders, particularly motorists, are dealt with by means of a payment into the court poor box, would the Minister not consider requesting the District Court to furnish the information asked for in the question?
I do not think I can do that. The putting of the money into the court poor box is something which happens after the case has been disposed of and no one has any power to make any individual put money into that box.