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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-04-18 | Promenade costs including all consultant fees paid to 31st March | All information sent |
| The request sought details on payments certified to Promenade contractors and fees paid to the Design Team. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the total payment amount to contractors and a breakdown of budget versus expenditure for various professional service providers. | ||
| 2019-04-18 | Aggregate and Tarmac costs | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the rates charged by the Department of Infrastructure for all types of aggregate and tarmac surfaces ex depot. The authority responded by sending the current price list and advising that prices fluctuate and can be confirmed by contacting the quarry directly. | ||
| 2019-04-17 | Mini Bus Expenditure | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the cost and quantity of minibuses purchased specifically for patient transport and demand-responsive services between April 2017 and April 2019. The Department of Infrastructure clarified that no vehicles were bought solely for these purposes but disclosed the costs and quantities of minibuses acquired during that period as part of general fleet replacement. | ||
| 2019-04-03 | Rental usage of traffic cones by the Department of Infrastructure | All information sent |
| A request was made to determine if the Department of Infrastructure rents traffic cones from third parties, including details on suppliers, quantities, and costs. The department responded that it does not hire cones from any third party, as it purchases and retains its own stock. | ||
| 2019-04-02 | Bus Annual Inspections | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the dates of annual roadworthiness inspections for all passenger-carrying vehicles conducted by the Vehicle Test Centre in the last 12 months. The Department of Infrastructure responded by sending the requested data, noting that dates represent the week commencing and that most tests occurred on Fridays. | ||
| 2019-03-29 | Number of PSV driving tests | All information sent |
| The requester asked for statistics on PSV driving tests conducted between 2017 and 2018, and the Department of Infrastructure provided the total number of tests taken and passed for both Category D and D1 vehicles. | ||
| 2019-03-07 | Payments made for Prom | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for the certified payment amount to the Promenade Contractor as of the last valuation. The authority disclosed the gross certified amount, retention deduction, and an allowance for early contractor involvement totaling £661,812.19. | ||
| 2019-03-04 | Resurfacing Ballavitchel Rd | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for the cost of relaying the tarmac surface on Ballavitchel Road. The authority disclosed the total cost, including labour and materials, and confirmed the request was fully answered. | ||
| 2019-01-28 | Recent works on main road in Ballabeg at junction with Friary Park | All information sent |
| 2019-01-08 | road inspection for A36 | All information sent |
| The requester asked for annual road inspection reports and repair details for the A36 near Ballakillowey between 2010 and 2018. The Department of Infrastructure provided all requested information, extending the data back to 2010 despite the legal requirement starting in 2011, while redacting third-party personal names. | ||
| 2019-01-07 | Highway Defects - Castletown Pedestrian Zone | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for statistics on highway defects and road openings in the Castletown Pedestrian Zone since 2012, along with details on reinstatement inspections. The authority disclosed that 41 defects were reported, 27 road openings were authorized, and outlined the inspection procedures used to ensure paving standards. | ||
| 2019-01-03 | HPAS | All information sent |
| The request sought the number of properties purchased in the last 12 months under the current House Purchase Assistance Scheme (HPAS) replacements. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that 30 properties were purchased between December 2017 and December 2018 under the two active schemes. | ||
| 2018-12-17 | Waste charges | All information sent |
| The request sought details on outstanding waste disposal charges at Sita categorized by age and actions taken to recover debts over six months. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed specific monetary amounts owed across different timeframes and explained that recovery actions include bankruptcy write-offs, payment arrangements, and ongoing dialogue with customers. | ||
| 2018-11-27 | Department expenditure on coal | All information sent |
| The request sought annual expenditure and quantity data for coal and peat since 2011, but the Department of Infrastructure could only provide cost figures as volume records were not maintained. The response disclosed financial spending for the Isle of Man steam railway and specific purchase details for coke used by the Blacksmiths Section. | ||
| 2018-11-20 | DoI fuel pump(s) | All information sent |
| 2018-11-19 | Waste Charges | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the value of outstanding waste charges for the main incinerator at the Energy from Waste Plant as of November 1st. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the outstanding amount as of October 31st was £432,859.72, noting this figure includes payments due 31 days or more. | ||
| 2018-11-07 | Lease of the Swiss House - Glen Helen | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the head lease and sub-leases of the Swiss House at Glen Helen, specifically seeking renewal, extension, break, and re-tendering clauses. The Department of Infrastructure provided the main lease, confirmed no sub-leases exist, and stated that only a break clause was present while other requested terms were absent. | ||
| 2018-10-02 | Parking Permits at Airport | All information sent |
| A request was made for details on Isle of Man Airport staff parking permits, including breakdowns by employer type, usage policies, and lease costs. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the total number of permits, the split between government and contractor staff, the lack of a written policy for off-hours use, and the specific annual charges for leasing bays. | ||
| 2018-10-01 | The Prom | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding the disposal location and transport route for bulk excavation from 'The Prom' project. The authority confirmed that all requested information was sent to the applicant on the same day the request was received. | ||
| 2018-09-10 | Road closures: Abbeylands | All information sent |
| The request sought dates and Road Closure Orders for Abbeylands crossroads closures due to rally events between August 2016 and September 2018. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed all requested information, providing the full text of the Rally IOM Road Races Order 2016. | ||
| 2018-08-06 | Communications | All information sent |
| A request was made for the Department of Infrastructure's National Infrastructure Plan, and the authority disclosed the full 54-page National Infrastructure Strategy document dated May 2017. | ||
| 2018-07-30 | Vehicle damage in incidents | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of Department of Infrastructure operational vehicles damaged in 2018 requiring external repairs or insurance claims. The authority disclosed that 20 accidents were reported, with 8 requiring external body shop repairs. | ||
| 2018-07-02 | Closure(s) of Public Right of Way 603 (The Clarum path) | All information sent |
| The requester asked the Department of Infrastructure for details on closures of Public Right of Way 603 (The Clarum path) within the three years ending 1 July 2018. The authority confirmed there were four closures during this period and provided the specific dates, types, and reasons for each. | ||
| 2018-04-09 | Income from public transport ticket sales | All information sent |
| 2018-04-03 | Consultants. | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the total amount paid to consultants over the last 12 months, including unpaid invoices. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the total revenue expenditure on external consultancy for the 2017-2018 financial year but stated it could not provide a specific list of consultant payments or quantify unpaid invoices due to system limitations. | ||
| 2018-03-28 | Unpublished FOI requests | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a 12-month breakdown of Freedom of Information requests received, refused, answered, and published by the Department of Infrastructure. The authority responded by providing a monthly statistical table covering the period from March 2017 to March 2018, detailing the counts for each category. | ||
| 2018-03-05 | Driving, motorcycle, HGV test pass rates | All information sent |
| 2018-02-21 | driving instructors pass rates | All information sent |
| The requester asked if driving instructors have daily limits on the number of students they can pass, but the Department of Infrastructure clarified that the question pertains to examiners, not instructors. The authority confirmed that there are no maximum or minimum limits on the number of people allowed to pass on a daily basis. | ||
| 2018-02-16 | A breakdown of the cost of 300k for security improvements at the Airport | All information sent |
| A request was made for a cost breakdown of £300,000 spent on airport security improvements, and the Department of Infrastructure fully disclosed the specific expenditures for equipment and building works. | ||
| 2018-01-09 | Social housing maintenance costs | All information sent |
| A request was made for the annual average maintenance costs per social housing unit in the Isle of Man since 2012, distinguishing between planned and reactive repairs. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the specific expenditure figures for both categories for each financial year from 2012-13 to 2016-17. | ||
| 2017-12-15 | Road tax paid per year | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for information regarding road tax paid per year. The authority confirmed that all requested information was sent to the applicant. | ||
| 2017-11-17 | Road repairs | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding road repair staffing and spending for the 2016/2017 financial year. The authority disclosed that 7 staff members work in rapid response teams and provided a total expenditure of £830,415.56 for maintenance and overlays. | ||
| 2017-11-10 | Fixed penalties quashed/withdrawn/cancelled | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request for the number of fixed penalties quashed, withdrawn, or cancelled following a review process for 2016 and 2017. The authority disclosed the statistics recorded in financial years, covering the period from 2015/2016 through to 2017 to date. | ||
| 2017-10-10 | Regeneration Costs | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request regarding regeneration costs by confirming that all information was sent and clarifying that the Village and Town Regeneration Fund supported various applicants beyond just the department's own projects. | ||
| 2017-10-08 | Gov Buildings rented & total paid in rent | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request regarding government building rentals, disclosing that it rents 12 buildings for various departments at a total annual cost of over £1 million. The response noted that other departments may rent buildings not administered by the DoI and mentioned an ongoing strategy to reduce rented accommodation. | ||
| 2017-08-31 | Bus drivers overtime and cost | All information sent |
| A Freedom of Information request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for total overtime hours and costs for bus drivers over the past five years. The authority fully disclosed the requested data, providing a breakdown of hours worked and amounts paid for each pay period from September 2012 to September 2017. | ||
| 2017-08-12 | Waste incinerator | All information sent |
| A request was made for the cost, tonnage, and income details of the secondary incinerator for medical and animal waste for the 2016/17 period. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the total tonnage of waste received by category and the total income generated for that financial year. | ||
| 2017-08-11 | Electric trams accident investigation | All information sent |
| 2017-06-11 | PROW | All information sent |
| 2017-05-30 | First time buyers schemes | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding first-time buyer schemes, and the authority confirmed that all requested information was sent. | ||
| 2017-05-29 | Lord and Parade Street Marketing | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a Freedom of Information request regarding Lord and Parade Street marketing by disclosing all requested information. The response included 9 pages across 1 document and provided details on the applicant's right to review. | ||
| 2017-04-26 | Road Policy and Inspection A1 St Johns to Peel Ballaleece Bridge | All information sent |
| A request was made regarding the classification, inspection frequency, and repair history of a defect on the A1 St Johns to Peel road. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed the road is strategic, corrected a database error regarding inspection frequency, and detailed the temporary and planned permanent repairs for a pothole. | ||
| 2017-04-21 | Rent Arrears | All information sent |
| 2017-04-12 | Strang Planters Part 3 | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a Freedom of Information request regarding 'Strang Planters Part 3' by confirming that all requested information was sent. The response also outlined the applicant's rights to seek a review from the Information Commissioner if dissatisfied. | ||
| 2017-04-07 | Shore road & Spit Corner | All information sent |
| A request for information regarding Shore road and Spit Corner was refused because the applicant failed to provide necessary clarification within the required 28-day timescale. The Department of Infrastructure cited Section 11(2)(c) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 as the legal basis for not processing the request. | ||
| 2017-04-05 | Motorhomes, Cat C and abandoned vehicles | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a Freedom of Information request regarding vehicle duty revenue, registration numbers for motorhomes and heavy goods vehicles, and abandoned vehicle removals for the 2016/2017 period. The authority disclosed all requested data, including specific financial figures and vehicle counts, though detailed breakdowns for abandoned vehicle types were limited. | ||
| 2017-04-05 | Accident stats | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request for accident statistics by providing a priority assessment table of highway schemes from 2011 to 2013. The document details 11 specific road improvement projects, including their costs, accident rates, and safety scores. | ||
| 2017-03-29 | Waste | All information sent |
| 2017-03-02 | Bus costs and Driver numbers | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request for bus costs and driver numbers by providing specific staffing data for February 1, 2017, and directing the requester to online government accounts for capital expenditure details. | ||
| 2017-02-13 | Foxdale Road project info | All information sent |
| A request for the Foxdale Road project plan, costs, staffing numbers, and completion times was made to the Department of Infrastructure, and all requested information was disclosed. | ||
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