The amendment, which was done to the Draft Development Contribution Scheme 2017, comes into effect immediately, according to Independent councillor, Dan McCarthy.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal on the issue, he said that 15 councillors voted for the amendment and 14 voted against it. There were four absentees from the vote.

“It’s not what’s going to happen immediately, it’s what’s going to happen down the road.

“Agricultural colleges have never been as busy, we’re trying to get people into farming.

“Young farmers will be hit, they’re the most vulnerable.”

Reacting to the news of the levy, Patrick O’Shea, Kerry IFA’s second representative, said that the levy on certain agriculture buildings is totally outrageous.

“We’re totally disappointed. Clare has a levy on buildings over 800m2, Cork has none and Limerick has none – they’re our border counties.

“This is not good for Kerry farmers. The reality is that the amount accumulated will only be small.”

Background

Kerry County Council justifies the proposed charges by explaining that the farming industry is a commercial sector and, therefore, should be charged rates for development.

The agricultural levy will act as a road and transport contribution, and excludes silos, yards, silage bases and slurry pits/towers.

The same rate would apply to horticultural polytunnels, glasshouses and mushroom tunnels.

The draft development contributions would apply the industrial rate of €12/m² to more intensive agricultural buildings, such as pig or poultry.

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