Hundreds of people protested at proposed increases in levies on new homes outside Kerry County Council headquarters yesterday.
Inside, the council heard that fire stations, sewage treatment plants and libraries are no longer being built with money wholly from central government. Instead, local authorities are being asked to provide matching funds.
Hundreds of people, including members of the Irish Farmers Association and the Irish Rural Dwellers Association, protested outside the Tralee headquarters against proposals to double, and in some cases, treble development charges.
Levies of some €9,500 on private houses in villages including Firies, Barraduff, Milltown, Ardfert and Kilcummin were proposed. In other areas, the proposed charge was €6,450.
However, councillors in Kerry voted unanimously to leave the residential charges at current levels, at €3,800 for private houses where public water and sewage facilities were needed.
Farm buildings smaller than 600 sq metres were exempt from charges, an official said. Houses not connected to the main sewer would not have to pay.
County manager Mr Martin Nolan said the essential element with levies "is to enable the council to provide essential infrastructure". Mr Donal Kelly, vice-president of Munster IFA, welcomed the decision not to increase charges.