Steam Packet has previously said it would be paying
Treasury Minister Chris Thomas has announced that Manx taxpayers are paying for the repairs to the Steam Packet's flagship vessel, the Manxman.
He was speaking on Manx Radio's breakfast programme the morning after the general election.
Mr Thomas said 'there are lots of possibilities about where that money comes from', adding when asked who is going to pay it that 'we are footing the bill'.
He then added that by 'we' he did mean 'the Manx taxpayer'.
The re-elected Douglas Central MHK added: "The board has been, you know, in charge of the repairs, but the shareholder of the board is the Treasury.
"So I've been seeing information and that's the sort of thing that we ought to be clear and obvious about with the Manx public."
Mr Thomas did not disclose what the bill is for the repairs, but said it was 'a lot of money being spent'.
Steam Packet managing director Brian Thomson previously told Manx Radio that 'the taxpayer won't be asked to pay anything'.
Speaking earlier this month, he added: "The company has its own funds. We don't get any money from the taxpayer to run the company. That includes repairs of the vessel."
Mr Thomas later told our Breakfast programme that he would 'check exactly what the situation is' when he returned to work as Treasury Minister today and called for clearer communication with the public on sea and air services.
However he would not be drawn on when the report into what caused the damage to Manxman would be released, but said that 'what caused the issues determines who pays ultimately for what's happened'.
The Manxman is still expected back in service by the end of November.
Manx Radio has sought clarification from both Treasury and the Steam Packet.
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