The Higher Education Authority have sent out requests to third level institutes asking them to show consideration to students who have yet to receive their grants.
Although the planning and development body have nothing to do with the issuing of grants, the Minister for Education asked them to make the requests, as 63,000 students are yet to hear back about their grant payments.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, chief executive of the HEA Tom Boland said he is sure that colleges will comply with these wishes.
"In fairness to the colleges, in other years where this issue has arisen, the colleges have consistently shown a proper care for their students and have shown the kind of flexibility and consideration that we are talking about," he said.
"This is not a no risk situation for the colleges themselves. Obviously there are potential cash flow issues. The obvious thing for everybody to do here is to come together and limit the impact for students. They are the innocent parties in this situation."
Mr Boland said the Students Assistance Fund will be of limited value to some of the applicants, as only a small number are issued each year, but added that the problem should be solved soon.
"Any student who has difficulties, the advice is to go to either their students' union or to the appropriate people in college and to explain their difficulties. I am absolutely sure that the institutions will do their best to help them as best they can," he said.