Disruption to bus services last weekend was the result of ’unforeseen staff shortages’.

The Department of Infrastructure says it is reviewing the issues that led to services to Ramsey, Peel and the south being cancelled.

Isle of Man Transport said: ’Due to unforeseen staff shortages on Saturday, the frequency of some services was reduced to minimise impact, and apologies go to anyone who was inconvenienced.’

A spokesman for the DoI said: ’The department very much regrets that due to staff shortages on Saturday it had to cancel a number of bus services.

’The department is reviewing the issues that led to the decision to cancel these services and is taking appropriate steps to try to prevent any recurrence.’

Staff shortages led to the loss of two return services from Douglas to Ramsey, resulting in an hourly service in place of the usual half-hourly service

One return service from Douglas to Peel was also lost, leading to one bus an hour in place of the usual two.

And four return services from Onchan to the south of the island had to be cancelled, leading to two buses an hour instead of the usual four.

The Manx Independent understands the staff shortage on Saturday was exacerbated by drivers attending a retirement party. But it is also linked to ongoing talks over pay.

On Saturday, Bus Vannin couldn’t persuade enough casual or permanent drivers to cover a weekend working shift.

There are 46 drivers at Bus Vannin who are on old terms and conditions. The other 52 are on the new terms imposed in October 2012 under which they all paid the same flat hourly rate, irrespective of hours worked.

There are also 65 casual drivers on zero hours contracts.

Bus drivers on old terms get a salary of about £28,000 but may expect to increase this to £36,000 by working weekends and public holidays at a higher hourly rate.

Staff on new terms with at least 12 months’ experience are paid £12.51 an hour for work on any day of the week while those on old terms staff get £14.13 an hour on weekdays and £20.03 an hour at weekends.

Some Saturday and all Sunday shifts are optional for drivers on both old and new terms as they work to the same working agreement.

Bus drivers on the old terms have been offered a £25,000 lump sum to go onto a new contract but only a handful have agreed to do so.

DoI chief executive Nick Black is a trained bus driver and provides cover when needed at weekends but doesn’t claim any extra pay or time owing for doing so.