Requests for almost £100 million in funding have been received by just one of the 50 bodies appointed to distribute the £240 million allocated under the European Union's Peace and Reconciliation Programme.
The Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, which has £30 million to issue under the programme, said it had received 1,700 applications seeking funds totalling more than £96 million. The requests came from a range of organisations including women's groups, former prisoners, victims of violence and those with alcohol and drug-related problems.