It has been claimed it was just not practical to use prison work parties during the recent freeze and snowfall.
Suggestions that they might be used to help the communities cut off by the snow would have been fraught with difficulties, according to the Home Affairs Minister.
Juan Watterson says it would have been necessary to assess each prisoner individually as to whether they would try and take advantage of the situation by, for instance, bringing drugs back into the prison
MiCard users advised to take money out before the end of the year
Cards are 'hardwired' to stop working from 1 January
'Nothing else could have been done' to save some small fish at Clypse Reservoir
Manx Utilities confirms some died during draining process
'Come back to the table,' says DOI minister
Bus drivers on the IOM have voted in favour of industrial action
Consultation seeks feedback on changes to IOM first time buyer schemes
Proposals include adjusting thresholds and reducing residency requirements