Taoiseach to visit slane today

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will visit Slane today to launch Fine Gael's 'Standing Up for Rural Ireland' campaign.

The launch is taking place in the Conyngham Arms Hotel. Meath East TD Helen McEntee will be introducing Mr Kenny to 17 local community groups which, she says, are driving economic and social recovery in Slane and in this part of rural Meath at present.

The 'Standing Up' campaign is the initiative of five Fine Gael TDs from the heart of rural Ireland - Brendan Griffin (Kerry), Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy (Offaly), Martin Heydon (Kildare), Michelle Mulherin (Mayo) and Deputy McEntee.

She said the group of five Fine Gael TDs began working on this campaign earlier this year. 'We have met with community groups, tourism groups, farmers, rural businesses and rural public representatives to gather opinions on what is needed to drive rural recovery,' she said. 

Mr Kenny plans to meet 17 of the 35 community groups that are driving Slane's recovery, and some of the 10 new businesses which have opened in Slane since 2011.