I received a communication from a mother who stated:

My son is autistic. He is neurodiverse. He thinks differently. He learns differently. He is lonely, afraid, confused and traumatised and that is because he is held in an adult mental health unit.

Does the Taoiseach know how many young people are put into adult mental health units throughout the country with no care plans, behavioural plans or discharge dates? These people do not have mental health issues. They need day services, residential services, speech therapy and behavioural supports. There are thousands of autistic children in this country.

Does the pilot programme for rapid-build accommodation incorporate modular builds in all local authority areas? We must support the rapid development of family homes for those in need. I intend to speak to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Tánaiste about this matter later today, but will the Taoiseach indicate whether the State will consider taking shares in companies that deliver rapid-build houses throughout Ireland on State land? These companies have the expertise that the State no longer has. Does the Taoiseach remember when foresight was displayed in this Chamber years ago with regard the ESB and Bord na Móna? Really good decisions were made. We are in a crisis situation. We need fast-build accommodation units for homeless people and for all local authorities. The latter are no longer equipped to build houses. Will the Government consider doing what I have suggested?

The Government set up Irish Water. Existing local authority staff of all grades throughout the country who work in the area of providing water services have been informed that if they do not move across to Uisce Éireann, they will face cuts to their pay and conditions.

The CEOs of local authorities are refusing to meet staff to even discuss matters. I am calling on the Taoiseach to make sure that they do so. Irish Water is taking over the running of the service in its entirety. Employees in all grades who work in the provision of water services have been informed that their pay and conditions will be reduced if they do not cross over and work for Irish Water.

Tógfaidh an tAire Stáit, Teachta Butler, an chéad cheist. In respect of the other two questions, on modular builds and rapid builds, the first phase is under way. There should be people starting to live in the first 500 to 700 in the next few weeks. Some local authorities already use modern methods of construction. Fingal is one of those. We do not currently have any plans to take a stake in any of the building companies involved. The Deputy indicated that she is going to talk to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage about the matter. When it comes to housing, I do not think anything should be off the table or not given proper consideration.

On Irish Water and local authority staff moving over to it, there is an industrial relations process through which that is being managed. I hope that the matter will be resolved using the procedures that exist.

I thank the Deputy for her question. A decision to place any young person into an adult psychiatric unit is never taken lightly. We have four units in Ireland, namely, one in Merlin Park in Galway, two in Dublin and one in Cork, for the taking into care of children and young people under the age of 18. On 20 occasions last year a young person - in 90% of the cases the person involved was 17 years of age - had to be placed into an adult psychiatric unit for their own support. A decision to do this will only be taken on medical grounds by a consultant psychiatrist if they deem that this is the only appropriate place for a young child. The information I received over the past three months in respect of access to a child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, unit for children under the care of CAMHS indicates that only one or two children have been waiting for such access. We have also been utilising private care at St. Pat's and St. John of God's if our own capacity has been lacking.

Only two of the children were under the age of 17, is that correct?

Correct.