Department of Infrastructure
451 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 100.0%
The Freedom of Information requests to the Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure reveal an authority that is selectively transparent, often prioritizing commercial confidentiality and administrative convenience over public scrutiny. A recurring theme is the 'black box' nature of major transport procurement; while the Department readily discloses the existence of projects like the Douglas Promenade or the purchase of Mercedes buses, it consistently withholds specific financial figures, citing commercial sensitivity (Cases 355921, 361167). Furthermore, the Department frequently relies on the 'information not held' exemption to avoid answering questions about specific costs for major events like the TT (Case 355883) or historical road adoptions (Case 355761), suggesting significant gaps in data retention and financial granularity.
Key Cases
Case 355857 — This case marks a critical turning point where the Department invoked the 'vexatious' exemption to block a series of requests regarding the Douglas Promenade and steam locomotives. It highlights the tension between persistent public scrutiny and the administrative burden, effectively shutting down a line of inquiry that had previously yielded partial results.
Case 355921 — A significant disclosure regarding the procurement of Mercedes buses, where the Department explicitly cited commercial sensitivity to withhold pricing and contract details. This case exemplifies the 'black box' nature of major transport spending, where the public knows buses were bought but not the specific financial terms.
Case 449033 — This case is notable for being 'Upheld - partial' following an internal review. The Information Commissioner found the Department had incorrectly applied a 'not held' exemption to the ZipTrip app costs, forcing a re-processing. It serves as a rare instance of the Department's initial refusal being challenged and corrected, revealing hidden financial data.
Case 355883 — The refusal to provide specific costs for TT (Tourist Trophy) road repairs, claiming they are not recorded separately from normal activities. Given the TT is the island's most significant economic event, the inability to isolate its infrastructure costs raises questions about financial accountability for major events.
Case 358461 — The complete withholding of information regarding a 2013 electric shock incident on the Manx Electric Railway due to 'ongoing legal proceedings.' This case underscores how legal risk is used as a blanket exemption to prevent the public from understanding the safety history of heritage transport.
Related FOI Stories
The Douglas Promenade: From Transparency to Vexatious Refusal — #355795, #355857, #355859, #355861, #355863
Commercial Secrecy in Transport Procurement — #355763, #355921, #361167, #355893, #356129
Data Gaps and 'Not Held' Defenses — #355761, #355773, #355883, #355895, #361191
Safety Incidents and Legal Exemptions — #358443, #358461, #355863, #355921, #548540
Housing and Social Welfare Opacity — #355805, #358449, #358451, #355925, #647165
All (451)
All information sent (451) ·
Some information sent but not all held (145) ·
Information not held (123) ·
Some information sent but part exempt (120) ·
No information sent - all held but exempt (53) ·
Not required to fulfill request (22) ·
Not upheld (12) ·
Upheld - partial (10) ·
Vexatious request (6) ·
Request lapsed - requested information not provided (5) ·
Withdrawn (3) ·
Upheld - full (1) ·
Neither confirm or deny information held (1) ·
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-24 | Current number of air traffic controllers at Ronaldsway Airport | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for the total number of air traffic controllers at Ronaldsway Airport. The authority responded by disclosing that there are currently 12 controllers able to undertake duties. | ||
| 2026-02-18 | Housing Agency Meetings | All information sent |
| The request sought details regarding Housing Agency meetings, including dates, attendees, independent members, and public minutes. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed all requested information, confirming five meetings took place between October 2025 and January 2026 with no independent members attending. | ||
| 2026-02-17 | Cancellation of flights | All information sent |
| A request was made to verify easyJet's claim that ground operations were suspended at Isle of Man Airport on 27 January 2026 due to strong winds. The Department of Infrastructure responded by providing detailed METAR weather reports showing wind speeds and conditions during the incident. | ||
| 2026-02-10 | TTRN public consultation Document as required | All information sent |
| The requester asked for public consultation documents submitted by Forest Homes regarding a road closure at 28-30 Derby Square under TTRN regulations. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed that all requested information was sent, including a notice of commencement for phase 2 traffic management measures. | ||
| 2026-02-09 | New Royal Avenue Bus Shelter | All information sent |
| A requester inquired about the quality and cost of a new bus shelter base on Royal Avenue, which they claimed resembled a paddling pool. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed the works have not been signed off due to quality concerns and disclosed the specific cost of the base installation. | ||
| 2026-02-02 | Cost of Cats Eyes | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the Department of Infrastructure's spending on cats eyes over the past 10 years, but the authority only disclosed total installation costs for the last two years because the specific purchase price is bundled with installation fees. | ||
| 2026-01-27 | Douglas Promenade Wall | All information sent |
| The request inquired about the completion status of artwork, lighting, and a sea wall at Harris and Loch Promenades. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that artwork design is ongoing with no final date, lighting infrastructure is ready for installation, and the Loch Promenade wall construction is likely to commence in late 2026. | ||
| 2026-01-22 | FOIs | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a summary spreadsheet of all Freedom of Information requests received by the Department of Infrastructure with personal data removed. The authority responded by providing a list of 50 specific cases from January to May 2022, detailing their status, subject matter, and dates. | ||
| 2026-01-12 | Names of lay members in housing agency | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the names of lay members on the Housing Agency Board and when this information would be public. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the recruitment process is incomplete, so no names can be provided, and the Board has not yet considered publishing this information. | ||
| 2026-01-09 | Coal tar identified in road surface | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request for a list of roads containing coal tar and those causing project delays by providing a summary table of 77 identified highways. The response confirmed that 43 of these locations are currently affecting surfacing programmes due to the presence of coal tar waste. | ||
| 2026-01-08 | Request for information regarding highway defect reports | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of highway defect reports regarding the Creg Ny Baa back road in 2025 and 2026, specifically concerning tyre damage. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed one pothole report from November 2025 and confirmed no reports of tyre damage were received. | ||
| 2026-01-07 | Print & Signage spend | All information sent |
| The requester asked for 2025 print and signage spending details for the Department of Infrastructure and Isle of Man Transport across six specific vendors. The authority disclosed spending amounts for five vendors, while noting that no data was available for BHW Print. | ||
| 2026-01-05 | Mountain road closures | All information sent |
| The request sought the total hours of full and partial closures of the Mountain Road in 2025. The Department of Infrastructure responded by providing three statutory notices detailing specific temporary closures for maintenance works, confirming that all requested information was sent. | ||
| 2026-01-02 | Failing to Display a road fund license | All information sent |
| The request sought statistics on fixed penalty notices issued for failing to display a road fund license in 2024 and 2025, including how many were paid or cancelled. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the total number of notices issued for both years along with the specific counts for paid and cancelled penalties. | ||
| 2025-12-30 | 25% provision of first time buyer homes | All information sent |
| A request was made regarding the Reaynt Mie development in Ballasalla to determine the number of first-time buyer homes built, available, or commuted to payments, along with the allocation process. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that 56 homes have been completed, 5 are unoccupied but allocated, and 52.75 units were commuted to payments, while clarifying they do not hold data on potential build numbers prior to completion. | ||
| 2025-12-30 | Service | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request for weekly passenger numbers, daily operating costs, and total introduction costs for the 8/8S bus route. The authority disclosed a full dataset of weekly passenger figures from August 2025 to January 2026, an average daily operating cost of £469.96 on school days, and a total introduction cost of approximately £80,969. | ||
| 2025-12-23 | Reconstruct Douglas Promenade | All information sent |
| The request sought details on descoped works and completion dates for the Douglas Promenade reconstruction. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed specific omitted elements, works transferred to in-house teams, and confirmed that the tram line extension lacks a definitive delivery date pending further approval. | ||
| 2025-12-09 | Housing Agency Terms of Reference | All information sent |
| The request sought details on the legal formation, membership, and terms of reference of the Isle of Man Housing Agency. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the Agency is an internal structure rather than a separate legal entity, operates under delegated powers from the Minister, and has a board of 12 positions. | ||
| 2025-12-04 | Bus Driver Conduct, Complaints and Disciplinary Statistics | All information sent |
| The requester asked for five years of aggregated statistics on bus driver conduct, complaints, and disciplinary actions for Bus Vannin. The Department of Infrastructure provided complaint data by category but stated it does not hold disciplinary records, which are managed by the Office of Human Resources. | ||
| 2025-12-03 | Isle of Man Coastguard videos | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the cost and purpose of specific Isle of Man Coastguard videos published on Facebook in November 2025. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the total production cost was £1,980 and the videos were intended for public safety awareness and recruitment. | ||
| 2025-12-02 | coastal erosion line kirk michael | All information sent |
| The requester sought criteria, affected property lists, and reports regarding the coastal erosion line in Kirk Michael. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the methodology follows the UK NCERM2 approach and directed the requester to publicly available HaskoningDHV reports, while clarifying that no definitive list of affected residential addresses is held. | ||
| 2025-11-26 | The cost. | All information sent |
| The request asked for the total cost incurred by the Department of Infrastructure regarding the Orsted wind farm. The authority disclosed that costs increased by £46,461.56 since November 2024, bringing the total to £513,818.56, while noting this excludes legislation preparation costs. | ||
| 2025-11-21 | Market rating uplift | All information sent |
| The request sought details on the number of Craftsman joiners employed by the Department of Infrastructure and their specific market rating uplifts. The authority disclosed that while Highways joiners received no uplifts, Facilities Management joiners received 4% or 12% uplifts following a 2022/23 review implemented in January 2023. | ||
| 2025-11-20 | Electric Railway Sign | All information sent |
| The requester asked why the Electric Railway sign lights are not changed to different colors for events like other landmarks. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that they do not routinely change the lights, have only received one request since installation, and are currently unable to program the controls because the supplier has not provided necessary guidance. | ||
| 2025-10-27 | No. 21 | All information sent |
| The request sought details on work undertaken, costs, operational status, and future budgets for Isle of Man Steam Railway locomotives. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that lifetime records do not exist, but provided detailed work summaries and a total cost of £195,202 for the preceding twelve months, along with current operational statuses and planned work for 2026. | ||
| 2025-10-27 | The new Liverpool ferry terminal used by the Isle of Man Steam Packet | All information sent |
| The request sought the names of consultants appointed by the Department of Infrastructure for the new Liverpool ferry terminal lease and construction. The authority disclosed that Turner and Townsend, The Manser Practice, and Aecom were the appointed consultants for project management, architecture, and engineering services respectively. | ||
| 2025-10-08 | Driving theory test appeals | All information sent |
| The requester asked for statistics on driving theory test appeals and their success rates between January 2015 and October 2025. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that eight appeals were lodged during this period, all of which were unsuccessful. | ||
| 2025-09-30 | Number of unlicensed vehicles on the Island | All information sent |
| The request sought the total number of registered vehicles on the Isle of Man and the count of those without current road tax. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that 167,716 vehicles are registered, with 89,519 currently untaxed, noting some may no longer be on the island. | ||
| 2025-09-17 | Planning breach - rear of 2 Victoria Terrace, Glen Rd, Laxey | All information sent |
| The requester asked for costs associated with an unauthorized patio structure built at 2 Victoria Terrace, Laxey, funded by the Flood Management Division. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the specific cost for the patio construction was £5,650.00, inclusive of materials and labour. | ||
| 2025-09-16 | Tax discs | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding the costs, quantities, and future of paper tax discs since January 2020. The authority disclosed the total cost, the number of discs printed via different channels, and confirmed that removing paper discs is being explored as part of digitization efforts. | ||
| 2025-09-08 | Sea terminal car parking | All information sent |
| The request sought the total number of car parking spaces at the Isle of Man Sea Terminal (excluding Parade Street) and the number of valid parking permits. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that there are 208 total spaces and 300 permits issued in 2025. | ||
| 2025-08-28 | Cost of Scaffolding Erected at Douglas City Tram Stables in Douglas | All information sent |
| A request was made for details regarding the scaffolding erected at the Douglas City Tram Stables, including costs, contractors, and maintenance responsibilities. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the scaffolding was hired from Absolute Scaffolding for urgent structural concerns, providing specific costs for the hire and traffic management. | ||
| 2025-08-20 | Parking permits 4883712 | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of resident parking permits issued to vehicles exceeding weight limits between 2018 and the present. The Department of Infrastructure responded that no such permits have been issued and explained the verification process used to ensure compliance. | ||
| 2025-08-14 | Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) access request | All information sent |
| The requester asked for Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) information for a specific section of Ballaquayle road in Douglas. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the TROs concern waiting restrictions and provided links to the relevant legislation documents. | ||
| 2025-08-05 | Manxman | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the investigation report regarding the grounding of the MV Manxman in Douglas Harbour on March 1, 2025. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed that all information was released and provided a direct link to the report on the government website. | ||
| 2025-07-03 | Why has the short pier by Peel Castle been closed for over a year? | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the rationale and documentation behind the closure of the short pier by Peel Castle, which the Department of Infrastructure attributed to subsidence damage and safety concerns regarding heavy vehicle parking. The authority disclosed that no formal risk assessment or closure order was issued as the decision was made mutually on-site, and confirmed that repair designs are complete while awaiting funding. | ||
| 2025-07-02 | Tynwald Members to Pay For Parking | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the parking policy or letter regarding Tynwald Members paying for parking, and the Department of Infrastructure disclosed the full 'Government Car Parking Policy- Tynwald Members' document. | ||
| 2025-06-25 | Weight limits on roads in peel | All information sent |
| The request sought weight limits for all roads in Peel, including the industrial park. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed specific tonnage restrictions for six road sections and confirmed that all other roads in the area are subject to a standard 38,000kg limit. | ||
| 2025-05-29 | Public Sector Housing | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number and reasons of complaints regarding public sector housing standards from 2020 to 2025. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that six specific complaints were recorded, detailing issues such as mould, damp, asbestos, and heating failures. | ||
| 2025-05-29 | Please provide details of works carried out to Hangar 5 | All information sent |
| The request sought details on tenancy, maintenance costs, and alternative usage of Hangar 5 since it was vacated by European Aviation Maintenance. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the hangar has no tenants, has incurred specific maintenance costs, and is currently used for government storage without generating rental revenue. | ||
| 2025-05-22 | Airport parking penalties | All information sent |
| The requester asked for six years of data on airport parking fines, revenue, and enforcement actions, but the Department of Infrastructure only disclosed the number of fines issued and paid, stating that revenue and enforcement data are held by Treasury and the Courts of Justice respectively. | ||
| 2025-05-21 | Residential discretion showing extreme need | All information sent |
| The requester asked for statistical data on 'residential discretion showing extreme need' authorisations by housing authorities from January 2020, broken down by location, time, and nationality. The Department of Infrastructure responded by sending guidance notes on the policy and process for residency waivers rather than the specific statistical tables requested. | ||
| 2025-05-15 | Speed data | All information sent |
| The requester asked for vehicle speed data collected at Duck Street in Ballabeg since the installation of an electronic speeding deterrent. The Department of Infrastructure responded that no such data exists because the device is a speed limit repeater sign that triggers when limits are exceeded but does not record speeds. | ||
| 2025-05-01 | public rights of way prow | All information sent |
| The requester inquired about the status of a path from Surby to Ballakillowey, asking if it had been extinguished due to redevelopment. The Department of Infrastructure clarified that the path was never a public right of way but a permissive path that was withdrawn by landowners due to user misconduct. | ||
| 2025-04-28 | Information regarding the Northern Civic Amenity Site | All information sent |
| A request was made for correspondence and financial details regarding the Northern Civic Amenity Site, including payments from local authorities and Department of Infrastructure support. The Department of Infrastructure responded by confirming that all requested information was sent to the applicant. | ||
| 2025-04-25 | Data supporting IOM 20mph limit | All information sent |
| The requester asked for data supporting a blanket 20mph speed limit across the Isle of Man and why it was not applied location-by-location. The Department of Infrastructure responded that no blanket approach was taken, instead providing specific criteria used to determine speed limits based on place, movement, and road characteristics. | ||
| 2025-04-17 | Correspondence detailing contributions to NCAS for 25/26 | All information sent |
| The request sought correspondence from the Department of Infrastructure to Local Authorities regarding funding contributions for the Northern Civic Amenity Site for the 2025/26 financial period. The authority disclosed the full email and budget breakdown, confirming that the Department contributed £48,590 from its internal budget to keep the site operational. | ||
| 2025-04-16 | Cost and timings of 20mph road furniture for Douglas and Onchan | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for details regarding the cost and procurement of 20mph road signage for Douglas and Onchan. The authority disclosed the order date, the total estimated cost, and confirmed the use of an existing framework agreement. | ||
| 2025-04-16 | Wildlife killed at the airport since 2024 | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure provided data on wildlife killed at Isle of Man Airport for 2024 and early 2025, detailing species counts, culling methods, and disposal procedures while clarifying they hold no records for other airports. | ||
| 2025-04-16 | Use of chemical herbicides along roads | All information sent |
| A request was made regarding the Department of Infrastructure's use of chemical herbicides on private roadside verges without consent, specifically concerning safety and policy. The authority disclosed that private land spraying is unintentional, identified Glyphosate as the chemical used, and provided details on authorization, training, costs, and the lack of public notification. | ||
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