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The Candidate
The Explainer
19 Feb 2026
The SNA own goal everyone saw coming
00:00

The government's plan to review how SNAs are allocated lead to a U-turn that was almost as sharp as the backlash. Letters landing in principals' inboxes triggered a political firestorm, TDs lined up to call it an own goal, and the plan was shelved. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy ask: how did the government walk into this one?


Also: is there a snobbery problem with how we talk about hot school meals?

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