Community, Culture and Leisure Minister David Cretney has written to Tynwald members to explain proposed redundancies in his department.

In the House of Keys on Tuesday, he announced 34 staff would be consulted about the possibility of eleven job losses this year and the same number in 2012.

The posts are among maintenance staff working on the Island's vintage railways, and the department has been meeting unions to discuss the moves.

In his letter, Mr Cretney tries to dispel claims the department is heavily loaded with managers, after North Douglas MHK Bill Henderson said he should look at cutting back on senior members of staff instead.

Mr Cretney points out that across the public transport division, only one in 25 people are in management roles, compared to almost 80 per cent in general staff.

He says those managers account for just under six per cent of the division's payroll.

Mr Cretney says his department doesn't look to make redundancies except as a last resort, and 20 posts have already been lost through natural wastage and leaving roles unfilled.

The minister concludes by saying he doesn’t believe four per cent of staff as managers is excessive in any business, let alone one where the challenges are so complex.