{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/67c5d757b48a8f157c1f9076/69a01bce7156d508745c87cc?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Huge Turnout at Ashbourne SNA Protest As Local Couoncillor Tells LMFM Why It Was So Important to Attend - 26/02/2026","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/67c5d757b48a8f157c1f9076/1772100263774-fe1e634a-071b-407d-aeb6-c563fd11da31.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Protests took place at locations across the country yesterday to highlight the ongoing concerns of parents, schools and Special Needs Assistants following controversy over the last week around SNA allocations for schools.</p><p><br></p><p>The demonstrations were called before the Government moved late Monday evening to reverse the planned changes. The Government last week paused a review and reallocation of SNAs for the coming school year after it caused concern and outrage among parents, teachers and SNAs.</p><p><br></p><p>One of the locations where a protest took place was in Ashbourne, so I decided to go along and check it out.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>The protest was led by Sinn Fein Councillor Maria White, who is also a school principal at junior school which has 5 autism classes and 20 SNA’s.</p><p><br></p><p>Councillor White joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us about how the protest went last night in Ashbourne, and about why it was so important to her to be a part of it.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"lmfm "}