The Children's Ombudsman has launched a preliminary investigation into allegations that the HSE failed to act quickly enough to protect a young girl whose mother claims she was raped and repeatedly sexually abused by a male neighbour.

It is understood that the examination by Emily Logan's office will centre around a range of concerns raised by the alleged victim's mother in relation to the HSE. These include alleged delays in carrying out a full psychological and medical assessment of her daughter, after she had disclosed an initial allegation of sexual assault towards the end of 2006.

The mother is also believed to have raised concerns about the quality of communication which she received from the HSE, as well as her contention that it did not take her daughter's best interests into account when making decisions. The Ombudsman's office has now launched an initial examination of these allegations, after which it will decide whether to proceed.

The only suspect in the case has strongly denied all allegations, and the Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently decided there was not enough evidence to initiate a prosecution. This is something which the mother believes is a direct result of the delays she encountered when dealing with the HSE. She has also raised the case with justice minister Dermot Ahern, children's minister Barry Andrews, health minister Mary Harney and the garda commissioner Fachtna Murphy. She is understood to be hopeful that the intervention of Logan's office might prompt a more thorough review.

However, the Ombudsman's office can only examine the steps taken by the HSE in relation to the alleged victim's case, and the resulting impact on her of these actions. It does not have the authority to examine or substantiate any allegations of abuse, or the effect which the HSE's actions may have had on any potential criminal proceedings or decision by the DPP.