Department of Infrastructure
145 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 311.0%
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 (145)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-20 | MHK PARKING | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for statistics on cancelled Fixed Penalty Notices for MHKs and details on MHK parking bays. The Department of Infrastructure refused the first part due to the excessive cost of collation but disclosed that there are 17 bays available at £95 per month. | ||
| 2026-02-09 | Public sector leases | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for statistics on council tenants in fixed-term contracts and the legality of such agreements. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed specific tenant counts from June 2025 and confirmed the legal basis for tenancies, but noted it does not hold data on future contract placements. | ||
| 2026-02-06 | IOM Airport CCTV Policy | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for all current and historic CCTV policies and privacy documentation for Isle of Man Airport from the last ten years. The Department of Infrastructure responded by providing some held documents but confirmed that other requested information was not held or could not be found after reasonable steps. | ||
| 2026-02-06 | IOM Airport - health and safety policy | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for all health and safety policy documents for Isle of Man Airport covering the last ten years for staff, contractors, and the public. The Department of Infrastructure responded with excerpts from the Aerodrome Manual (v2 Feb 2021) detailing current health, safety, security, and environmental policies, noting that not all requested information was held. | ||
| 2026-01-21 | Road markings | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for statistics on road marking defect reports and repainting frequencies for specific locations between 2024 and 2025. The Department of Infrastructure provided report counts by channel and location but stated they do not hold records on how many times markings were repainted. | ||
| 2026-01-20 | Waste Tyres, Watercourse Obstruction and DOI Responsibilities | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding its responsibilities for waste tyre disposal and watercourse obstruction, as well as related contracts and complaints. The authority responded that while some information was provided, they do not hold or could not find specific details regarding internal guidance, policy frameworks, and complaint records. | ||
| 2025-11-25 | traffic light sequencing | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for traffic light sequencing details and CCTV footage for an accident at A3 Ballacraine Crossroads on 3rd March 2023. The Department of Infrastructure provided the sequencing specifications but confirmed that no CCTV footage exists for that location. | ||
| 2025-11-11 | Claims for injury for past year | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the number of injury claims due to slips or falls in Castletown Square over the past year and whether compensation was received. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed one claim was received but stated they do not hold information regarding compensation outcomes. | ||
| 2025-11-06 | Port Erin 20mph | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for details on the methodology, software, and external consultants used to define Port Erin's proposed 20mph speed limits. The Department of Infrastructure responded that no automated processes or external consultants were used, relying instead on manual officer assessments, and stated that no supporting technical documentation is held. | ||
| 2025-11-05 | Information on Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice | Some information sent but not all held |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request for Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice (TTRN) data from 2015 to 2025, disclosing only application counts for 2024 and 2025 while refusing other data due to lack of records. | ||
| 2025-09-05 | Requests for UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency Helicopter Airlifts | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2025-06-23 | FOI Request - Spped Monitoring data for Port St Mary - 20mph limit | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for speed monitoring data in Port St Mary before and after the implementation of 20mph limits, to which the Department of Infrastructure responded with partial data covering 19 days in May 2025. | ||
| 2025-04-10 | Castletown Social Housing Rent Arrears Debt | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought specific rent arrears debt figures and debtor details for Castletown social housing as of the end of the 2024-25 financial year, along with the relevant policy. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the extant policy document but indicated that not all requested information was held. | ||
| 2025-03-04 | Burial Ground Rates | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the Onchan Burial Ground Revenue Budget Submission and any Department of Infrastructure appraisal for the year to 31 March 2025. The Department provided the submission form but stated that no appraisal records exist as the review process does not produce specific documents. | ||
| 2025-02-04 | Airport crash rescue response time | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for RNLI response times and safety equipment details for aircraft water rescues at the Isle of Man airport following the removal of the airport rescue boat in 2019. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that it does not hold this information because the RNLI is an independent charity, though it confirmed the existence of two Memoranda of Understanding regarding search and rescue cooperation. | ||
| 2025-01-29 | Communication with Ramsey Town Commissioners re North Shore Road | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for all correspondence between the Department of Infrastructure and Ramsey Town Commissioners regarding gulleys and drains on North Shore Road since 2022. The authority disclosed that no specific correspondence was held but provided attached defect reports submitted by Ramsey Town Commissioners staff within the requested timeframe. | ||
| 2025-01-07 | Process resulting in temporary closure of Castletown Square Ref. RCO48 | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for details regarding the approval process and documentation for the temporary closure of Castletown Square. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed submission dates and approval timelines but stated that specific communication plans and evidence of stakeholder consultation were not held due to staff turnover. | ||
| 2024-11-12 | Housing Association | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester sought terms of reference, consultant details, and communications regarding a proposed housing association; the Department of Infrastructure disclosed the consultant's identity and tender documents but confirmed it does not hold specific terms of reference or the requested written communications. | ||
| 2024-11-12 | Gulley cleaning, road sweeping and hedge trimming | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for schedules and actual completion dates for gulley cleaning, road sweeping, and hedge trimming on the A3 road in the Parish of Patrick for 2021-2024. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that no set schedules exist as work is ad hoc, and while hedge trimming records are not held, partial records for sweeping and gully cleaning were provided for October 2022 to October 2024. | ||
| 2024-09-25 | No of houses approved from 2010 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the number of new house builds approved since 2010 and between 2000-2010, along with a breakdown by contractor. The Department of Infrastructure stated it does not hold approval or contractor data, but provided a table of dwellings completed between 2007 and 2023. | ||
| 2024-09-25 | Castle Jetty Peel | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made regarding the structural stability, public access restrictions, and cleanliness of the Castle Jetty in Peel. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that bottom stabilisation is complete but deck works await Treasury funding, while confirming the jetty is closed for repairs and parking prevention, though they stated they do not hold information regarding the accumulation of detritus. | ||
| 2024-09-12 | Minibus disposals | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought details on the current Bus Vannin minibus fleet and any minibuses disposed of since 2013. The Department of Infrastructure provided a full list of current vehicles but confirmed that no Bus Vannin minibuses have been auctioned or disposed of since 2013. | ||
| 2024-09-02 | FoI Costs | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the specific costs of providing Freedom of Information responses over the past three financial years. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the total costs for its Information Governance and Data Protection team but stated it does not hold specific figures isolating FOI response costs from other duties. | ||
| 2024-08-23 | Cost of 'cherished' registration numbers on DOI vehicles | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for costs and policy details regarding cherished registration numbers on Department of Infrastructure Public Transport vehicles since 2015. The authority disclosed that no costs were incurred for these plates, confirmed there is no specific policy, and refused to answer questions requiring the creation of new information. | ||
| 2024-08-15 | Promenade Parking - Communications with Parking Controllers | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for communications regarding parking controllers issuing fixed penalty notices on Douglas Promenade before 10:00 am over the last three years. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed a Beat Information Sheet but stated it does not hold rota records beyond two weeks or summaries of non-written communications. | ||
| 2024-08-07 | Accident A3 25/04/2022 | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for detailed records regarding High Friction Surfacing works on the A3 at Sulby Bridge in early 2022 following an accident, to which the Department of Infrastructure responded with a purchase order and a code of practice document while stating not all information was held. | ||
| 2024-08-05 | Ferry terminal | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for information regarding the Liverpool ferry terminal's snagging list, passenger access bridge availability, and seating capacity was partially fulfilled. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the number of seats but withheld the snagging list under commercial prejudice exemptions and stated they did not hold data on the access bridge issues. | ||
| 2024-07-25 | Salt Boxes | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the analysis report and policy regarding the removal of a salt box on Springfield Avenue. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that no written report existed as the decision was based on a visual inspection and verbal briefing, while providing the general assessment criteria used for salt bin placement. | ||
| 2024-07-23 | employees working from home | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for statistics on employees working from home between December 2022 and December 2023, but the Department of Infrastructure disclosed that it does not hold records for ad hoc arrangements, only noting one formal case. | ||
| 2024-07-23 | Flight Cancellation | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made regarding the closure time of Ronaldsway Airport runway on 15 June 2023 and its link to an easyJet flight cancellation. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the runway closed at its normal time, the flight was cancelled due to airline delays preventing operation past the 2300 hrs curfew, and no information was held regarding the specific cause of those airline delays. | ||
| 2024-07-08 | Query regarding rentals and Public Sector Housing | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the number of people waiting for public sector housing and private rentals broken down by constituency. The Department of Infrastructure provided public sector waiting list figures by housing provider as of April 2024 but refused to provide private rental data or constituency breakdowns. | ||
| 2024-05-21 | Procedures for dealing with FOI requests | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for training materials and advice on handling Freedom of Information requests, including specific guidance on refusals and exemptions. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed publicly accessible guidance links and internal training materials but stated that specific advice documents on deflecting requests or extending processing periods were not held. | ||
| 2024-04-16 | Complaint against Ms Moreblessing Pedhuru | Some information sent but not all held |
| The applicant requested copies of correspondence and answers to questions regarding a complaint against Ms Moreblessing Pedhuru and legal advice from the Attorney General. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed limited information regarding postal procedures and signage evaluations but withheld legal advice due to privilege and refused to generate new information or answer repeated questions. | ||
| 2024-03-25 | The wreck of the "Boy Ken" | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2024-03-22 | Accident Statistics | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2024-03-12 | Webcams | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2024-01-16 | South Drive, Noble's Hospital | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-12-21 | DOI expenditure at NSC | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-11-28 | Local Authority Membership | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-11-24 | Systra report into Heritage Railways 2023 | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-11-14 | Southern Amenity Site / Recycling Centre | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-09-28 | Airport | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-08-22 | Deceased Tram Horses | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-08-16 | Complaints about parking | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-07-11 | Airport Parking Order | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-07-04 | Safety on Beach Road Port St Mary | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-06-15 | Flights | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-06-15 | Steam Train 16 Mannin Restoration | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-06-01 | Snaefell Tram Brakes Failure | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2023-05-30 | Electric Bus Trial Costs | Some information sent but not all held |
Page 1 of 3 Next »