Teagasc conference to focus on rural life

Changes in rural population, jobs, housing patterns and farm incomes are due to be discussed at a Teagasc conference in Tullamore, Co Offaly today.

The "Real Futures" conference was organised to discuss the changes experienced in rural Ireland in recent decades.

Teagasc spokesman Michael Miley said the imposition of quotas on Irish farming over the past 20 years had a detrimental effect on rural areas, particularly in midland and south-eastern counties.