Gwynedd Council says it currently has 2,400 empty places in primary school classes across the county.

It says there has been a dramatic fall in pupil numbers over the last decade, down 9%, with another fall of 9% forecast in the next 10 years.

The authority says this is costing �850,000 a year to fund at present, and this will rise to �1.2 million over the next few years.

There are currently 106 school sites in the county. Under the proposals, these will be cut to 85 sites.

29 schools will close entirely.

In their place, the council intends establishing 11 "area" schools. These will take pupils from sites that have been shut.

Eight of the area schools will be built on new sites, three will be established on the sites of existing schools.

The authority also intends creating 18 "federal" schools. In effect, this brings together a number of schools under the leadership of one head teacher, instead of individual sites having their own head.

The first step will be to present the report on reorganisation to the council's children and young people's scrutiny committee on 25 October.

The plans will then go to the council board and full council. If backed there, a period of consultation will begin with the schools affected.

A final plan will be presented to the council in the summer of 2008, with arrangements for the first schools to be affected put in place for September 2009.

According to the Welsh education inspectorate, Estyn, Gwynedd spent �4,322 on ever pupil in the last year. That is higher than the Welsh average of �4,094.

Gwynedd council says it expects seven out of 10 pupils to benefit from an increase in spending if the plans go-ahead, including the �30 m being spent on the eight new area schools.

Talk of the review has been going on for nearly two years and parents and governors have expressed concerns.

Ahead of the publication, the councillor who held the education portfolio at Gwynedd Council, Penri Jones resigned. He has yet to give his reasons.

Another senior Plaid Cymru councillor has also resigned from his party's group on the council.

Simon Glyn, the member for Tudweiliog, cites his opposition to the education plans and has urged others to unite behind a campaign against the proposals.

Glyn Owen, from the Llyn forum of school governors, says Gwynedd Council has "betrayed small rural schools".