Department of Infrastructure
53 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 850.9%
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 (53)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-19 | Rental figure for land | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the annual rental cost of two land parcels at Hairpin Woodland Park leased to the Manx Wildlife Trust. The Department of Infrastructure refused to disclose the information, citing commercial interests exemptions. | ||
| 2025-12-16 | easyJet discussions | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for correspondence regarding discussions between the Department of Infrastructure, DfE, and easyJet about the future of the Isle of Man Airport. The Department refused to disclose the information, citing exemptions related to the prejudice of Council of Ministers' deliberations and suggesting the requester contact the airline directly. | ||
| 2025-12-10 | Staffing levels and reduction | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of 74 staff reductions and remaining staff numbers by category within the Department of Infrastructure. The authority refused to provide the specific data, citing that the information is already reasonably accessible via published quarterly Public Service size reports. | ||
| 2025-12-02 | The name of the consultants working with the DOI | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for the names of consultants working with the Department of Infrastructure on a new Liverpool terminal for the Isle of Man Steam Packet. The authority refused to provide the information directly, citing that it is already reasonably accessible via a previous FOI response. | ||
| 2025-10-28 | Request for information on Ex-Police vehicle | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the service history and repair records of a specific ex-police Ford Tourneo Connect vehicle. The Department of Infrastructure refused to disclose the information, citing exemptions related to the prejudice of commercial interests and fair competition in the vehicle disposal process. | ||
| 2025-10-27 | The new ferry terminal liverpool | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for expenditure and estimated completion costs regarding the new Liverpool ferry terminal for the Isle of Man Steam Packet service. The Department of Infrastructure refused to disclose the information, citing legal professional privilege and the risk of financial prejudice due to ongoing disputes. | ||
| 2025-09-16 | Road closure application supporting documents | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for supporting documents regarding road closures for the Isle of Man Festival of Motoring for 2024 and 2025, but the Department of Infrastructure refused to disclose any information. | ||
| 2025-05-13 | ******** - D.O.B ****** | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the date, time, and location of a workplace accident involving a Bus Vannin driver who fell from a minibus tail lift. The Department of Infrastructure refused to disclose the information, citing absolute exemptions for personal data under the Freedom of Information Act 2015. | ||
| 2025-04-16 | 20mph Signage for Douglas and onchan | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for the specific cost of new 20mph signage for Douglas and Onchan, but the Department of Infrastructure refused to provide the information directly. | ||
| 2025-01-17 | Traffic Management of the Central Promenade during construction 2021 | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request for 2021 traffic management, risk assessments, and construction details regarding the Central Promenade was made to the Department of Infrastructure. The authority responded that no information was sent because some records were held by a third-party contractor or lost due to website decommissioning, while other held information was exempt due to legal professional privilege. | ||
| 2024-08-09 | Jurby airport | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request for information regarding the potential use of Jurby airport as a new national airport was made to the Department of Infrastructure, but no information was disclosed as it was deemed exempt under sections 34 and 35 of the Freedom of Information Act. | ||
| 2024-08-09 | Jurby airport | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for all correspondence regarding Jurby airport proposals between January 2023 and August 2024, but the Department of Infrastructure refused to disclose any information citing exemptions for government policy formulation and ministerial advice. | ||
| 2024-07-18 | Guidance for practical motorcycle tests | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for guidance used by examiners for practical motorcycle tests, specifically regarding fault definitions. The Department of Infrastructure stated that while general test guidance is available in hardcopy, no specific document defining faults exists, as faults are determined by failure to meet testable requirements. | ||
| 2024-05-13 | Legal definition of a caravan | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for the legal definition of a caravan following restrictions on permanent imports to the Isle of Man. The Department of Infrastructure refused to send the information directly, citing that it is already reasonably accessible to the public via a provided link to Tynwald legislation. | ||
| 2023-12-13 | JEGS correspondence | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2023-11-23 | Systra Heritage Railways Review | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2023-10-26 | Systra report into Heritage Railways 2023 | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2023-10-20 | Lease Agreement with DONG Energy (now Orsted) | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2023-08-23 | Public estate | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2023-03-30 | MER derailment accident report | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2023-02-16 | Cost of Douglas Promenade refurbishment | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2022-11-28 | Report on 27 November | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2022-10-05 | Heathrow | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for a weekly breakdown of payments made to underwrite Loganair's Heathrow route from May to October 2022. The Department of Infrastructure refused to disclose the information, citing exemptions related to commercial interests. | ||
| 2022-09-30 | Heritage Railways & Cycle Paths | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2022-09-27 | Options for dealing with silt from Peel Harbour/Marina | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2022-08-30 | All communications between the IOM Government and Crogga | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2022-06-17 | Emergency response procedures | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the Department of Infrastructure's Emergency Response Procedures for Ronaldsway Airport, but no information was disclosed. | ||
| 2022-06-13 | Harbour Dues | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for details on outstanding harbour dues and enforcement actions for boats in Peel's Dry Dock. Although the initial response cited personal data exemptions, a subsequent letter disclosed specific vessel numbers, outstanding amounts, and enforcement status. | ||
| 2022-06-06 | Ramsey Marina | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for correspondence and meeting details regarding Ramsey Marina between the Department of Infrastructure and private individuals over a 12-month period. The authority refused to disclose any information, citing exemptions for commercial interests and personal data. | ||
| 2022-05-18 | Adopted Highways in Ballastowell Gardens | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for a map or details of adopted highways and public rights of way in the Ballastowell Gardens housing development in Ramsey. The Department of Infrastructure refused to send the information directly, citing that it is already reasonably accessible via a paid search form or by viewing plans in person. | ||
| 2022-05-05 | cost of new airport parking system | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the total estimated cost of the new Ronaldsway airport parking system, including barriers and app fees. The Department of Infrastructure did not release the data directly, citing that the information was already reasonably accessible via a Tynwald Hansard record. | ||
| 2022-04-25 | Tram Derailment | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for reports regarding a tram derailment on July 16, 2021, but the Department of Infrastructure withheld all information citing an ongoing investigation. | ||
| 2021-06-24 | Bus Vannin Private Hire Activities | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for detailed financial and operational data regarding Bus Vannin's private hire activities from January 2019 to 2021, but no information was disclosed. | ||
| 2021-05-20 | Marine Drive Road Closure Proposal consultation | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for responses to the Marine Drive Road Closure Proposal consultation, but the Department of Infrastructure withheld all information citing a qualified exemption. | ||
| 2021-05-04 | Contractor payment Peel Dredging | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for payment details regarding AD Bates Associates' work on the Peel Harbour Dredging Contract, but the Department of Infrastructure refused to disclose the information citing commercial interest exemptions. | ||
| 2021-04-08 | Attorney General Government Tenders | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked if the Isle of Man Attorney General had business interests in construction companies awarded contracts by the Department of Infrastructure over the last 10 years. The authority refused to provide the information directly, citing that it is already reasonably accessible in public Government Audited Accounts. | ||
| 2021-01-18 | Curragh Road (A3) road crossing (Heritage Trail / Former Railway Line) | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for documentation regarding the design, safety, and installation of a pink crossing and gates at the Curragh Road Heritage Trail. The Department of Infrastructure withheld all requested information, citing an exemption related to ongoing legal proceedings. | ||
| 2020-12-18 | Voluntary Landlord Registration Scheme | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for a list of landlords registered on the Voluntary Landlord Registration Scheme with contact details, but the Department of Infrastructure refused to disclose the information. | ||
| 2020-03-04 | Promenade Minutes | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for minutes from a Promenade Strategic Project Board meeting held on 14 February 2020, but the Department of Infrastructure refused to send them directly because they are exempt under the FOI Act as they are held for future publication and will be made available on the MyProm website after the next meeting. | ||
| 2020-02-17 | Liquidated damages Prom | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for the daily liquidated damages amount for a construction contract, but the Department of Infrastructure refused to send the information directly because it was already reasonably accessible via a public Tynwald report. | ||
| 2019-12-30 | Railway Passenger Numbers | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for 2019 passenger journey numbers for four Isle of Man heritage railways, but the Department of Infrastructure stated the data was not yet held as it was still being collated. | ||
| 2019-10-07 | Gov't contractual agreement with Crogga | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the contractual agreement and licensing conditions between the Department of Infrastructure and Crogga Ltd regarding hydrocarbon extraction. The authority did not disclose the documents directly, stating the information is already reasonably accessible on their website. | ||
| 2018-10-31 | SAVE Programme | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for plans of projects identified through the SAVE programme, but the Department of Infrastructure refused to provide them, citing that the information is already reasonably accessible via public links. | ||
| 2018-07-30 | vehicle search | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the Department of Infrastructure's vehicle and passenger search procedures at the port, but no information was disclosed. | ||
| 2018-04-16 | Extinguished highways, footpaths or rights of way | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for documents regarding public highway, footpath, or right of way extinguishment cases voted against by Tynwald in the last twenty years. The Department of Infrastructure refused to send the documents, citing that the information is already reasonably accessible via the Tynwald Hansard website. | ||
| 2018-04-04 | Laser Scan | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for 2015 lidar/laser scan survey data of the TT and Southern 100 race courses collected by Landscope Engineering Ltd. The Department of Infrastructure refused to send the information directly, citing that it is already reasonably accessible for purchase from the Highway Services Division. | ||
| 2018-02-24 | cost of buying and leasing buses since 2016 | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for the cost of buying and leasing buses since 2016 with a breakdown of vehicle types. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed no buses are currently leased but withheld purchase costs under Section 30 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 due to commercial sensitivity. | ||
| 2018-01-20 | Car Removals | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for statistics on vehicle removals in Douglas in 2017 and details on the removal procedure, including notice periods. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the number of vehicles removed but refused to provide procedural details, citing that the information had been supplied to the requester just four weeks prior. | ||
| 2018-01-05 | ex Lisbon Tramcar | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the total acquisition costs of the ex Lisbon Tramcar 360 from 1996, including purchase price and travel expenses. The Department of Infrastructure refused to provide the information under the Freedom of Information Act because the data predates the Act's commencement date. | ||
| 2017-11-27 | Assessment with regards to car park site development bids | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request for information regarding car park site development bids was made to the Department of Infrastructure, but no information was disclosed as it was deemed exempt under commercial interest provisions. | ||
Page 1 of 2 Next »