Department of Infrastructure
120 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 375.8%
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-03-26 | Vehicles owned and maintained by DOI | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought the total number of vehicles owned and maintained by the Department of Infrastructure (DOI) and other government departments. The DOI disclosed that 1,188 road vehicles are managed across nine departments but exempted steam railway and Manx Electric Railway figures as they are already publicly accessible. | ||
| 2018-03-19 | potholes and surface defects reported 2017 and 2018 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for statistics and locations of potholes and road surface defects reported in 2017 and 2018, along with their repair status. The Department of Infrastructure provided total counts and outstanding figures but redacted specific location data where it could identify third parties under data protection exemptions. | ||
| 2018-03-12 | Heritage Trail | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for the estimated cost of proposed works to the Heritage Trail, to which the Department of Infrastructure disclosed the cost for one specific section while citing that other budget details were already publicly accessible. | ||
| 2018-02-07 | IM120124I - Diesel Locomotive | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought details on costs and works for IoM Railways' diesel locomotive 21 since 2013, including warranty coverage and future plans. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed specific repair costs and warranty details but withheld the value of the bogie repair contract under commercial interest exemptions. | ||
| 2018-02-06 | Fire Extinguishers and Blankets | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for specific spending on fire extinguishers and blankets for financial years 2015-2017 and the current year, but the Department of Infrastructure could not provide itemized figures as they are not held separately. Instead, the authority disclosed total expenditure for all fire equipment, which includes unrelated items like safety signage, citing a practical refusal reason under the Freedom of Information Act 2015. | ||
| 2017-11-30 | Chief Executive salary | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for the name and exact salary of the Department of Infrastructure's Chief Executive for the last financial year. The authority disclosed the name and the salary band but withheld the specific salary figure citing an absolute exemption for personal data. | ||
| 2017-11-08 | Steam Railway guards | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request for information regarding Steam Railway guards was partially fulfilled by the Department of Infrastructure, disclosing hourly pay rates but withholding specific employment and training data for new guards hired in 2016 and 2017. | ||
| 2017-11-06 | REVIEW - Broomfield Cottage | Some information sent but part exempt |
| An applicant requested planning and building work records for Broomfield Cottage stream banks, leading to an internal review that overturned the original refusal and resulted in the release of some information with personal data redacted. | ||
| 2017-10-18 | Broogh Wyllin first time buyers | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for detailed financial assistance records for first-time buyers at the Broogh Wyllin development, but individual property data was withheld due to personal data exemptions. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed aggregate figures for loans and grants provided between 2005 and 2009, along with current outstanding balances. | ||
| 2017-10-14 | Mercedes buses | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for contracts, shipping manifests, and pricing details regarding Mercedes buses supplied to the Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure. The authority partially refused the request, citing commercial sensitivity and exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act 2015 to protect the financial interests of both the supplier and the public transport service. | ||
| 2017-10-14 | Douglas Harbour dredging | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A Freedom of Information request regarding Douglas Harbour dredging was submitted to the Department of Infrastructure, resulting in a partial disclosure where some information was sent but other parts were exempt. | ||
| 2017-10-13 | Samaritans Purse charity | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought details on the Department of Infrastructure's support for the Samaritans Purse 'Operation Christmas Child' train event, including costs, staffing, and future plans. The authority disclosed that the train will not run in the future due to lack of request and concerns over the charity's leadership, while providing specific cost estimates and policy details. | ||
| 2017-10-03 | Bus Vannin accidents | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request for specific dates of Bus Vannin passenger accidents since September 2012 was partially fulfilled, with exact dates withheld due to data protection exemptions while yearly incident statistics were provided. | ||
| 2017-09-05 | public transport ticket system | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought details on costs for the public transport ticket system, and while the authority confirmed a £400,000 capital sum was spent on the Ticketer system in 2013-14, further specific costings were withheld. | ||
| 2017-06-27 | Peel dredging contract | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A Freedom of Information request regarding the Peel dredging contract was submitted to the Department of Infrastructure, resulting in a partial disclosure where some information was sent but other parts were exempt. | ||
| 2017-06-07 | Silverdale - Tenders & Lease | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The Department of Infrastructure released a redacted copy of the head lease for the Silverdale Glen building complex involving Baker Tilley and Manx Ices, but withheld personal data regarding individuals. | ||
| 2017-06-06 | Silverdale | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made regarding the lease award process and terms for the Silverdale Complex, to which the Department of Infrastructure responded that no competitive tender was used and provided lease details in an appendix while redacting personal data. | ||
| 2017-03-31 | Douglas Prom | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for the design team details, fees, and cross-sections of the Douglas Promenade scheme, with the tender documentation request withdrawn by the applicant. The Department of Infrastructure provided the requested design team and cross-section information in appendices, though some personal data was withheld under statutory exemptions. | ||
| 2017-02-07 | Laxey Bridge bus accident | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A Freedom of Information request regarding the Laxey Bridge bus accident was partially fulfilled by the Department of Infrastructure, disclosing vehicle details, route information, and costs while withholding the purchase price due to commercial confidentiality. | ||
| 2017-01-19 | Speed limits and A7, Colby | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made regarding the decision-making process for speed limits and specific changes to the A7 road in Colby between 2011 and 2017. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed policy documents, traffic count samples, and briefs for the road changes, but redacted personal signatures citing data protection exemptions. | ||