The name of the person appointed to run the health services under the new Government reforms is expected to be given to the Cabinet for approval on Wednesday.
For the last few months the Government has been engaged in a process to recruit a chief executive for the new Health Service Executive, which will directly and indirectly employ about 100,000 staff and have a budget of over €10 billion.
Government sources said it was expected that the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, would inform Cabinet colleagues of progress on the issue on Wednesday.
It is unclear whether the preferred candidate has signed a contract at this stage.
The person believed to be favourite for the post is an Irish-born graduate currently holding a senior post in the health service in Britain.
The new CEO of the Health Service Executive will be the highest paid official in the health services, with an estimated salary of €250,000 per annum. It is also expected that the post will attract a bonus of about 20 per cent.
