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
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-30 | Douglas Sea Wall | All information sent |
| The requester asked for contract assurances regarding the quality of the new Douglas Sea Wall due to reports of crumbling material. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the project uses an NEC4 contract requiring test panels and allows for defect notifications to be remedied at the contractor's cost. | ||
| 2024-07-24 | Cost of individual bus routes | All information sent |
| The requester asked for annual passenger numbers, daily costs, and daily income for specific Isle of Man bus routes for the 2023-2024 financial year. The Department of Infrastructure provided annual revenue and passenger figures but refused to calculate daily costs and income, citing that such data would need to be derived and would vary significantly based on operational factors. | ||
| 2024-07-16 | Equipment Rental | All information sent |
| The requester asked for annual spending on temporary traffic lights and road work signage from Watling Street Works for 2022-2023. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that specific costs could not be separated, providing a combined total of £39,978 for all traffic management services from that supplier. | ||
| 2024-06-18 | Roundel road traffic collisions | All information sent |
| A request was made for the number of road traffic collisions at the Douglas roundel from 2021 onwards. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that only one personal injury collision was recorded in 2022, with zero incidents in 2021, 2023, and up to May 2024. | ||
| 2024-05-28 | Maximum load weights | All information sent |
| The request sought maximum load weights for linkspans and piers at Douglas and Heysham ports. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that Heysham assets are not under their control, Douglas pier capacities are unknown due to age, and provided specific weight limits for Douglas Link Spans 1 and 5. | ||
| 2024-05-23 | Complaints of bus drivers | All information sent |
| The request sought statistics on complaints against Bus Vannin drivers over two years, details on handling procedures, and improvements to customer service. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed full complaint logs for 2022-2024, explained their processing workflow, and outlined initiatives involving local charities and hidden disability support. | ||
| 2024-05-21 | Legal licences for the killing of birds at the airport | All information sent |
| The requester asked for copies of specific licences issued for killing birds at the Isle of Man Airport from 2019 to date. The Department of Infrastructure responded that no specific licence exists for the airport, but provided a link to the relevant general licences issued by DEFA. | ||
| 2024-05-16 | Wildlife killed at the airport since 2019 | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request for data on wildlife killed at the Isle of Man airport since 2019, disclosing specific culling figures, species details, and methods used. | ||
| 2024-05-08 | Tree Branch Cutting Around Bray Hill Area | All information sent |
| A request was made to understand the rationale behind the removal of foliage from trees on Port-E-Chee Ave and High View Rd in Bray Hill. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the work was based on a tree survey following complaints and licensed advice to use pollarding for height restriction and tree longevity. | ||
| 2024-05-01 | Printing and Signage. | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of Department of Infrastructure spending on printing and signage with six specific companies over the last three years. The authority disclosed the total amounts spent with each company, revealing significant expenditure with Signrite and Words and Spaces, while Cannell Print had zero spending. | ||
| 2024-04-30 | Cars seized without tax in a public area | All information sent |
| The requester asked for data on vehicles seized by the Department of Infrastructure for lacking tax in 2024. The authority disclosed that 60 vehicles were seized for being untaxed for over 30 days and 354 tickets were issued for the same offence between January and May 2024. | ||
| 2024-04-23 | vehicle tax and licensing | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for clarification on vehicle registration fees, the purpose of vehicle tax, and refund policies under Isle of Man law. The authority confirmed that all requested information was sent, addressing the £15 registration fee, the destination of revenue, and the specific legal conditions required for tax refunds. | ||
| 2024-04-16 | Number of first time buyers single applicants | All information sent |
| 2024-04-04 | First Time Buyers Scheme | All information sent |
| A requester asked the Department of Infrastructure for statistics and financial details regarding the First Time Buyers Scheme, specifically focusing on equity buyouts, interest payments, and the allocation of surplus income since 2018. The authority confirmed that all requested information was sent to the applicant on May 9, 2024. | ||
| 2024-03-27 | Parking Spaces in Douglas. | All information sent |
| 2024-03-20 | Proposed Residential Development, Vollan Fields, Bride Road, Ramsey | All information sent |
| 2024-03-06 | Cost to the Isle of Man Government to Subsidise School Bus Fares | All information sent |
| 2024-02-29 | Ramsey Beach Clearance Communication with RTC | All information sent |
| 2024-02-20 | Glen Maye Main Road Condition - Jan 2021 - Nov 2021 | All information sent |
| 2024-02-14 | How many individuals obtained provisional license in 2023 | All information sent |
| 2024-02-06 | Driving theory and practical tests | All information sent |
| 2024-02-05 | Roads and relevant infrastructure | All information sent |
| 2024-02-05 | Rent Increase | All information sent |
| 2024-02-02 | Quantity of waste at Animal Waste Processing plant. | All information sent |
| 2024-01-24 | Tradesmen Parking Permits Price Increase | All information sent |
| 2024-01-05 | Information regarding Patrick Commissioners | All information sent |
| 2023-12-19 | DOI Airport Staff pay scales | All information sent |
| 2023-11-30 | Vehicle License renewals | All information sent |
| 2023-11-30 | Mid Rent Scheme | All information sent |
| 2023-11-17 | Cost of diesel locomotive used by IOM Railways | All information sent |
| 2023-11-14 | Parking Enforcement Procedures Manual | All information sent |
| 2023-11-08 | Tramway Terrace | All information sent |
| 2023-11-07 | Reported accidents at Holly Home Greeba | All information sent |
| 2023-11-07 | Kepple Gate corner | All information sent |
| 2023-11-02 | Number of Crashes on Mountain Road and associated costs | All information sent |
| 2023-11-01 | Bus Service Complaints and Actions Taken | All information sent |
| 2023-10-20 | De-watering Lagoon planning conditions | All information sent |
| 2023-10-17 | Traffic Wardens | All information sent |
| 2023-10-12 | Temporary resident parking permits | All information sent |
| 2023-10-04 | Coast Guard Call outs 2022 and 2023 | All information sent |
| 2023-09-22 | MER Inspection Frequency | All information sent |
| 2023-09-21 | Derelict vessel | All information sent |
| 2023-09-19 | Information on the current state of social housing | All information sent |
| 2023-09-14 | request for information relating to damaged highway gulley | All information sent |
| 2023-09-13 | The wreck of the "Ocean Quest" | All information sent |
| 2023-09-11 | Highways Development Control - 23/00958/B | All information sent |
| 2023-08-31 | A1 Preparatory works for TT races | All information sent |
| 2023-08-31 | Time and motion study at vehicle test centre | All information sent |
| 2023-08-24 | Ben-my-Chree | All information sent |
| 2023-08-24 | Manxman | All information sent |