Waterford Council has called on the Department of Health to commit to staffing increases in its public mental health service.
Currently around 30 per cent of psychiatric nursing positions in Waterford are vacant.
It comes as local Oireachtas members meet with University Hospital Waterford management today.
Green Party Councillor Marc Ó Cathasaigh brought the motion to council.
"We're all painfully aware of the cardiac care crisis that exists in our hospital but there's also a mental health crisis both nationally and in the south-east," he said.
Sinn Féin's John Hearne, who released photos of patients having to sleep on chairs and the floor in the unit, seconded the motion.
"I think this is an absolutely disgraceful way to treat patients in Waterford and for two years the government knew about this problem because they were told," said Councillor Hearne. "The Health Commission knew about this problem because they were told because the staff were highlighting this during their industrial action and for nearly two year there were on and off strikes trying to highlight this issue. We should never treat people like that."
