Up to 30,000 students were warned last night they could face significant delays in the payment of third-level grants due to administrative problems which have arisen over the summer.
The State's 33 VECs, which process and pay grants to thousands of students, said there would be delays, possibly of several weeks, before some students would have their applications processed.
The Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA), which represents the VECs, said it was impossible to judge the exact length of delays, but said a large number of students would not get their grants in time for the start of term.
Mr Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the IVEA, said a lot of parents and students were already dissatisfied with the delays in the process and had complained to their local VEC.
He said the Department of Education had failed to send VECs this year's grant application forms in time and this was the primary reason for the delays. He said VECs had also got details of this year's eligibility requirements late and because of staff holidays and other minor problems, the whole process was at least a month behind the usual timetable.
"We want to provide an adequate service to students and their parents, but these delays make that impossible. The problems are bringing the whole grants process into disrepute."
He said in previous years the grants process was closed by the second week in August. But he said this year, because of delays, advertisements had not even been placed in newspapers yet.
The Department of Education defended its position yesterday and said application forms were in the process of being sent out.
A spokesman said VECs in Dublin should have already received the forms and VECs in the rest of the country would be getting them next week.
The VECs, along with the local authorities, are responsible for paying third-level grants.
While there is often delays paying grants at individual VECs and local authorities, a general delay throughout a whole sector is more serious.
The number of applicants for grants changes every year because anybody is entitled to apply. If they pass the eligibility criteria they are paid a grant.