Tynwald unanimously backed a £4.5m project to extend St Mary’s RC Primary School, in Douglas.

Education Minister Graham Cregeen told the court that the development would ’transform the teaching and learning environment’ for pupils and staff and ’allow future generations of children to flourish’.

He secured Tynwald funding approval for £3,630,938, having previously approved pre-contract expenditure of £172,000.

The total project cost is £4.5m including fees, fittings and equipment.

Mr Cregeen said a contract would now be signed with Auldyn Construction with the works due to begin at the end of this month and construction scheduled for completion by mid-August next year.

He explained the scheme would tackle three main problems - lack of disabled access, use of unsatisfactory mobile classrooms and an inadequate hall facility. A two-storey extension will be built, with a two classrooms on each floor, and the hall will be extended.

Lifts will be installed and disabled toilets provided in the infant and junior block.

The existing building will be reclad, reglazed and re-roofed.

Mr Cregeen accepted it was a large sum of money to spend.

He said: ’We’ve got a building that is dilapidated and it needs to be improved, removing old mobile classrooms that are not fit for purpose. The large one doesn’t even have a toilet in it. That’s not acceptable nowadays.’