Department of Infrastructure
10 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 4510.0%
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
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-21 | Castletown chaos | Upheld - partial |
| The request sought documentation regarding the Castletown Commissioners' application to permanently close Castletown Square, and the response disclosed internal emails and briefing notes detailing the consultation process, public objections, and the Minister's review of the Department's role. | ||
| 2024-10-15 | Ørsted | Upheld - partial |
| The requester asked for annual income received by the Department of Infrastructure from Ørsted for the Mooir Vannin seabed lease since 2015/16. The Department refused to disclose the information, citing exemptions related to economic and commercial interests. | ||
| 2024-07-19 | Service 28 - Cregneash | Upheld - partial |
| The requester asked for financial viability figures, ticket breakdowns, costs, and schedules for the discontinued Service 28 bus route to Cregneash. The Department of Infrastructure partially upheld the request, releasing passenger statistics, ticket values, estimated operational costs, and historical service schedules. | ||
| 2023-09-13 | The wreck of the "Boy Ken" | Upheld - partial |
| 2023-08-01 | Request re. the punctuality of the evening flights LGW-IOM-LGW | Upheld - partial |
| 2023-02-07 | Can you advise me please of all DOI works within the River Glass | Upheld - partial |
| 2021-06-16 | CRHS - Building, Mechanical, Electrical and other Condition Reports | Upheld - partial |
| The request sought specific building, mechanical, and electrical condition reports for the CRHS business case and subsequent ad hoc reports, along with methodology details for monitoring the education estate. The Department of Infrastructure partially upheld the request, disclosing a December 2016 Suitability Study that assessed room conditions, accessibility, and infrastructure against current legislation. | ||
| 2019-04-03 | Richmond Hill | Upheld - partial |
| The request sought information regarding road defects, remedial costs, and safety hazards on Richmond Hill and Ballavitchel Road. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the root cause is under investigation, remedial costs will be borne by the contractor, and specific safety measures like filling ditches and reinstating bollards are planned. | ||
| 2018-11-14 | Bus Stops - The Parade / Market Square Castletown | Upheld - partial |
| The requester asked for details on bus stop injury incidents in Castletown and internal correspondence regarding proposed stop amendments. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that two injuries occurred in 2017 but withheld internal policy correspondence under a qualified exemption. | ||
| 2018-04-24 | Zip Trip mobile app information | Upheld - partial |
| A request for information regarding the ZipTrip mobile app usage, costs, and features was partially upheld following an internal review, which found that the Department of Infrastructure incorrectly applied a 'not held' exemption to all questions. The review ordered a re-processing of the request to disclose specific financial data that should have been available in government accounting systems. | ||