Education's top civil servant has said he is confident free school meal payments will be made to children over the summer months.
Up to £12 million for holiday meal support has been held up over a row about Troubles compensation payments.
Executive ministers had been due to sign off June's monitoring round at a meeting on Monday, with the plans to be presented to the assembly.
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However, it was not brought before the executive by finance minister Conor Murphy as anticipated.
The delay is understood to relate to a stand-off between Sinn Féin and the DUP about stalled pension payments for injured victims of the Troubles.
The parties are at odds over whether the monitoring round should include the funds to cover the set-up costs of administering the compensation scheme.
As a result, the whole process of reallocating unspent Stormont funds to various departments has been put back.
Close to 100,000 pupils are entitled to free school meals (FSM) during term-time - almost 30 per cent of all young people.
Food poverty, especially during holidays, can be a significant issue for families on low incomes.
Children typically receive no support during the two-month-long summer break, leaving many struggling.
Several youth clubs and community centres fill the gap in some areas by providing thousands of dinners.
Since schools closed in March, children entitled to FSM have instead been receiving direct payments. These are due to end on June 30.
Department of Education Permanent Secretary Derek Baker yesterday appeared before the assembly education committee.
He was asked for an update on free meals by SDLP MLA Justin McNulty.
Mr Baker said he remained hopeful that the executive would provide the required funding.
"I would be very confident we'll be able to roll forward. It's not difficult to roll it forward in logistical terms," Mr Baker said.
"We just need to flick the switch and it continues."
He added that it remained a decision for the executive.
Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist Party justice spokesman Doug Beattie said hungry children were being used as pawns in the row over victims' pensions.
"This is utterly reprehensible, and this tit for tat approach to government is allowing victims and now disadvantaged children to suffer," he said.
"Again I call on the secretary of state to take the politics out of the Victims' Pension Scheme and return the UK wide scheme to the Northern Ireland Office and administer it from London.
"This would not only resolve the victims’ pension issue but would also end the standoff on funding for free school meals, contained within the June monitoring round."
