Grants totalling a record £6.1 million to almost 900 projects and organisations around the State were announced yesterday by the People in Need Trust.

The grants, which range from £100 to £50,000, include funding for projects for children, families, the elderly, disabled and homeless.

The money was raised through more than 5,000 events last year in the seventh and most successful RTE People in Need Telethon, supported by Eircom.

Since it was established in 1998 the People in Need Trust has distributed more than £22.5 million to charitable organisations around the State. RTE's director general, Mr Bob Collins, said he was delighted the telethon had broken its fundraising record.

Grants are allocated in six categories: £1.2 million for children and youth; £1.1 million for the elderly; £1.2 million for people with disabilities; £317,000 for the homeless; £1.05 million for multi-purpose projects covering family resource centres; and £1.08 million for other services, including rape crisis centres and hospices.