Ian Pearson is proposing a reduction in the number of councils

Official sources say it may result in the four health boards and 19 health trusts being reorganised to create fewer than 10 bodies.

It follows Tuesday's comments from local government minister Ian Pearson that the number of councils and public bodies in Northern Ireland could be significantly reduced.

The man in charge of the consultation process, Northern Ireland Ombudsman Tom Frawley said the health care changes would not affect patient services.

"There are some services that need to continue to be delivered on a regional basis, like cancer and renal services, which have been developing extremely well and making great progress," he told BBC Radio Ulster on Wednesday.

"There are others that need to be delivered within the primary care arena with GPs and so on.

I think most people realise that 26 councils in Northern Ireland is too many Ian Pearson Local government minister

"It will provide a more structured approach to bringing those issues into play and giving primacy to them."

The bodies will be more accountable to the public.

Mr Pearson has suggested the 26 councils in Northern Ireland could be whittled down to fewer than ten.

He met with the political parties last week to discuss proposals for the biggest shake up in local government for a generation.

The remaining councils would have more powers than they currently do.

Mr Pearson said the local government system should be streamlined.

"I think most people realise that 26 councils in Northern Ireland is too many," he told BBC Radio Ulster on Wednesday.

"How far you need to go down to get councils of a sufficient scale where they can actually be major contributors to economic regeneration is a matter for discussion and debate.

"I happen to think that talking about reducing it to single figures makes sense."

The review of public administration was initiated by the devolved executive before the assembly was suspended in October 2002.

We could see much more normal local government, which is something we haven't known before in Northern Ireland Heather Moorhead Local Government Association

Over the summer, the minister will hear analysis on how the models can work from Mr Frawley.

Sources say the minister is determined the issue is decided soon and he has indicated he will publish his final report in the autumn.

There are a number of possible models for the new councils including one super council and seven smaller ones.

There is also the possibility of five super councils with more powers.

Heather Moorhead of the Local Government Association said they were in favour of any plan for fewer, more powerful councils.

"Potentially after five years, we could see much more normal local government, which is something we haven't known before in Northern Ireland," she said.

"The elected members would be responsible for education, planning, economic development and regeneration of their areas instead of those things being left to administrative agencies."

However the proposals have been criticised by the SDLP, who called them an "unwelcome development".

Local government can do an awful lot more - it should never have been left in the powerless position it was in Sir Reg Empey UUP Belfast councillor

The party's spokesperson on local government, Tommy Gallagher, said the proposed "super councils" would remove power from the people at grassroots level.

The Mayor of Ballymoney Borough Council, Frank Campbell of the DUP, warned that ratepayers may not get the same attention from their councillors.

Belfast City Councillor Sir Reg Empey said it would mean expansion for some councils.

"I think that local government can do an awful lot more. It should never have been left in the powerless position it was in," said the Ulster Unionist.