The Government has said it cannot give a date for the opening of ten beds at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, which remains closed because of a dispute between unions and the Health Service Executive.
The beds are required for the treatment of patients, some of whom are believed to be in prisons awaiting transfer to the hospital under the Mental Health Act.
Sinn Féin Senator Máire Devine told the Seanad that the Government was not fulfilling its duty of care to the patients involved.
She said the beds were ready but have not been opened because of a dispute which has gone on for a year-and-a-half.
Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development Seán Kyne said it was a priority under the HSE service plan to increase bed capacity at the Central Mental Hospital.
He said: "An additional ten beds to accommodate patients who are awaiting admission under section 21.2 of the Mental Health Act are due to be commissioned shortly.
"The additional beds remain unopened pending agreement between the executive and the unions which have been brought through a Workplace Relations Commission process.
"I understand these are likely to be referred to the Labour Relations Commission for adjudication. At this point it is not possible to give a precise date for when the beds will reopen, but the executive are continuing efforts to open them in the autumn.
"I would urge all sides to work together to open these beds as quickly as possible."
Ms Devine said the Workplace Relations Commission would not be meeting for a number of months, which means the patients who are in need of treatment will have to continue to wait.
