Department of Infrastructure
12 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 3758.3%
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-25 | Safety issues/ concerns raised | Not upheld |
| A request was made for all public safety concerns and actions taken at the Isle of Man airport over the past five years, specifically regarding air traffic control. The Department of Infrastructure refused to disclose the information, citing an absolute exemption under aviation safety reporting laws. | ||
| 2025-05-23 | Public Feedback on 20mph Speed Limit | Not upheld |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of public feedback on proposed 20mph speed limits, but the Department of Infrastructure only disclosed the total number of submissions received. The detailed analysis and sentiment breakdown were withheld under Section 41 of the FOI Act 2015 as the consultation analysis was still ongoing. | ||
| 2025-05-14 | Renewable generation | Not upheld |
| A request for information regarding renewable generation and the Future Energy Delivery Strategy was made to the Department of Infrastructure, resulting in a decision not to uphold the request due to extensive redactions. | ||
| 2025-01-22 | Boat Park Fees | Not upheld |
| A request was made for detailed payment records and recovery actions regarding harbour dues and boat park fees for specific vessels and all remaining vessels in Peel and House of Manannan. The Department of Infrastructure refused to disclose the information, classifying the request as vexatious under the Freedom of Information Act 2015. | ||
| 2025-01-07 | Ramsey harbour | Not upheld |
| The requester sought contracts regarding Mezeron's use of Ramsey harbour and records on Costa bin placement, but the Department of Infrastructure refused disclosure citing commercial sensitivity. | ||
| 2024-12-10 | organizational chart- Harbours Division | Not upheld |
| 2024-10-15 | Peel Marina | Not upheld |
| The request sought documentation on long-term silt disposal plans for Peel Marina and specific cost data regarding Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), transport, and dredging. The Department of Infrastructure refused to compile meeting notes and recordings under section 8(3)(c) but disclosed specific costs for EIA preparation, silt transport, and the overall dredging project. | ||
| 2024-09-24 | Peel Marina Dredgings | Not upheld |
| The request sought details on the date, costs, and disposal plans for Peel Marina dredgings. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the dredging date, removal timeline, and intended reuse location, but withheld specific leasing costs citing commercial sensitivity. | ||
| 2024-09-17 | FOI responses - Disclosure Log 4095513 | Not upheld |
| The requester sought the total cost and number of Freedom of Information responses provided by the Department of Infrastructure for the financial years 2021/22 to 2024/25. The authority confirmed that the previously disclosed costs for the Information Governance team apply to the whole department and provided a table of case numbers processed annually. | ||
| 2024-05-14 | Bus Vannin cost savings | Not upheld |
| The requester asked for specific cost savings figures for Bus Vannin's Connect Villages service by financial year, but the Department of Infrastructure provided a qualitative explanation of savings mechanisms and average annual figures instead of a year-by-year breakdown. | ||
| 2024-04-24 | Roads | Not upheld |
| The requester sought correspondence, meeting minutes, and telephone recordings regarding the 'Roundhouse' roadway between the Department of Infrastructure, Manx Care, and DHSC from October 2021 to April 2024. The Department of Infrastructure responded with the Highways Act 1986, and the request was ultimately not upheld. | ||
| 2020-11-02 | harbours security | Not upheld |
| The request sought details on the recruitment, pay rates, and uniform costs for bank and contracted security officers at the Isle of Man harbours, as well as future salary projections. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that two bank officers were directly appointed due to urgency, provided specific hourly rates and uniform costs, but withheld future salary bill predictions as they do not hold such information. | ||