Thousands of students were unable to apply for their third level grant yesterday, after the online system SUSI collapsed.

The deadline has now been extended until midnight on Monday, to deal with difficulties caused by that technical error.

SUSI was due to stop accepting applications at midnight last night, but because of technical problems with the online system the deadline has been extended.

Last year the grant processing body was beset with problems and some applicants had to wait 6 months before their grant was paid, but students are being promised the service will be vastly improved this year.

Alan Murphy is head of operations at SUSI:

SUSI maintains the system was only unavailable between 7 and 9pm last night, because of a technical error. The body insists no re-occurence is expected, and no-one was disadvantaged. They're also insisting no information was lost or compromised.

The advice now to students is that they should submit their applications as soon as possible. Students have an extra 4 days to make those applications, now that the deadline has been extended.

In addition, SUSI says students who apply between now and Monday will be able to avail of the priority being given to students who applied before the 1st of August.