The Housing Minister has confirmed that he is open to introducing a ban on the advertising of substandard properties on the internet and he would bring forward overcrowding legislation shortly, according to Sinn Fein.

It follows a call by the party to introduce a ban on the online advertising of substandard rental accommodation that breaches fire safety and minimum standards.

Deputy Ó Broin said: "I questioned Minister Murphy on what action his government has taken since the RTÉ Investigates programme 'Nightmare to Let' was aired last November and the Sinn Féin motion on rental accommodation standards was passed in the Dáil.

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"I asked him if he would be willing to make it a criminal offence for online platforms such as Daft.ie, myhome.ie and social media sites such as Facebook to advertise sub-standard rental accommodation that are in breach of fire safety and minimum standards.

"Making it a criminal offence for letting platforms to advertise such properties is very straight forward.

"For social media such as Facebook Government should insist that advertising substandard properties is a breach of their Community Standards.

"This would place an obligation on the social media site to remove such properties and pages when reported."

(CD/MH)