The number of councils and public bodies in Northern Ireland could be significantly reduced, local government minister Ian Pearson has said. Mr Pearson met with the political parties last week to discuss proposals for the biggest shake up in local government for a generation.

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

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.

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".

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.

Over the summer, the minister will hear analysis on how the models can work from the man in charge of the consultation process, the Northern Ireland Ombudsman, Tom Frawley.

The health bodies, which include 19 trusts and four health boards, are also expected to be whittled down significantly.

The bodies will be more accountable to the public.

Report from BBC Online.