A group campaigning for more women to run for election has asked the government to match the nearly €56,000 it has raised through a crowdfunding campaign.

‘Women for Election’ has thanked the Taoiseach for his personal donation of €200 to their campaign, which plans to train 300 women to run in the next local elections.

The #MoreWomen campaign raised raised €55,927 in total.

However, they have now called on Leo Varadkar to go one step further - by getting the government to back the drive for gender equality in politics financially.

Co-founder Niamh Gallagher it is time to challenge the traditional barriers stopping women entering politics - including childcare and lack of confidence:

“The barriers that women face to entering politics have been really well researched and in Ireland historically, culture and candidate selection have been really key,” she said.

“We have had a male dominated political culture; until the last election our Dáil was always a minimum of 85% male.

“That has started to shift with the introduction of the gender quota legislation – there are positive moves happening.”

Ms Gallagher said the campaign works with community groups at a grassroots level to “identify women with an interest in politics” and help them take the next step.

She said the programme is open to women nationwide who may have an interest in politics but have “never taken that active step.”