CodeIgniter - Custom Loader using layouts

MY_Loader.php

<?php
/**
 * CodeIgniter - Custom Loader using layouts
 *
 * @author darkoverlordofdata
 */
class MY_Loader extends CI_Loader {
    
    var $layout = '';
    const EXT = '.phtml';
    
    /**
     * Get the default layout view
     */
    function __construct() {
        parent::__construct();
        
        $layout = config_item('layout');
        if ($layout <> '') {
            $this->layout = $layout.self::EXT;
        }
    }    

    /**
     * Change the layout view
     * 
     * @param type $layout
     */
    function setLayout($layout) {
        $this->layout = $layout.self::EXT;
    }

    /**
     * Render the view with layout
     * 
     * @param string $view
     * @param array $view_data
     * @param boolean $return
     * @return string
     */
    function view($view = '' , $view_data = array(), $return = FALSE) {  
        if ($view <> '') {
            $view = $view.self::EXT;
        }
        if ($this->layout <> '') {
            $view_data['content'] = parent::view($view, $view_data, TRUE);
            return parent::view($this->layout, $view_data, $return);
        } else {
            return parent::view($view, $view_data, $return);
        }
    }

}