Department of Infrastructure
952 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 47.4%
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 (952)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-11-06 | Port Jack, Onchan | All information sent |
| The requester asked for all defect reports and maintenance records for the Port Jack pavement in Onchan since August 2016. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed a database extract detailing two specific public complaints, their resolutions, and three routine inspections where no defects were found. | ||
| 2019-10-31 | Cabbage | All information sent |
| The requester inquired about the operational history and breakdown costs of a vehicle named 'Cabbage', which the Department of Infrastructure identified as Diesel Loco No. 21. The authority disclosed that the locomotive operated from August to October 2019 without breakdowns, though it was withdrawn for precautionary investigation regarding an abnormal current draw. | ||
| 2019-10-31 | Promenade | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made regarding the Promenade project concerning concrete failure, contract delays, and contractor financial difficulties. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the project is behind schedule with a new completion date but denied knowledge of financial issues, while citing Section 20 to withhold information on concrete failure as it is already publicly accessible. | ||
| 2019-10-10 | Amenity Site | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for the lease agreement for the eastern district amenity site, and the Department of Infrastructure provided the document with redactions applied to the rental figure and signatures. | ||
| 2019-10-10 | Douglas Promenade | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding expenditure and project status for the Douglas Promenade scheme. The authority disclosed total payments to the contractor and professionals as of October 2019 and confirmed the project is behind schedule. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2019-10-03 | Drain & culvert management plans | All information sent |
| The requester asked for maintenance and repair schedules for drains and culverts in Laxey village for 2018 and 2019. The Department of Infrastructure provided the requested information in an attachment, with some personal data redacted under Section 25 of the Act. | ||
| 2019-09-24 | Speed restrictions | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for orders restricting speed limits to 20 mph and 10 mph on the road from Fisher's Hill to the Shore Hotel in Gansey. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed two emergency traffic signs notices imposing a 10 mph limit due to safety concerns with ongoing works, but confirmed that no information regarding a 20 mph restriction was held. | ||
| 2019-09-24 | Defective concrete Douglas Promenade | All information sent |
| A request was made for documents explaining concrete failure on the Douglas Promenade and all correspondence between the client and contractor. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed all requested information across eight appendices, noting that some personal data was redacted under data protection exemptions. | ||
| 2019-09-23 | Steam Packet Fuel. | Information not held |
| 2019-09-13 | information for research | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the number and cost of buildings purchased and demolished by the Department of Infrastructure since October 2011. The authority disclosed purchase figures and a list of demolished buildings but withheld demolition costs due to the substantial work required to compile them. | ||
| 2019-09-13 | Delegation of Parking Enforcement Powers to Ramsey Town Commissioners | All information sent |
| The requester asked for communications and meeting minutes regarding the delegation of parking enforcement powers to Ramsey Town Commissioners. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed email trails concerning parking controllers and training, along with operative warrants, but noted that no meeting minutes were captured for training sessions. | ||
| 2019-09-09 | Steam Packet Carbon Emissions | Information not held |
| A request was made for carbon emission figures for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Fleet per kilometre, mile, or journey. The Department of Infrastructure responded that they do not hold this information and noted that the Steam Packet Company is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. | ||
| 2019-09-03 | Village Connect Services to Doctors and/or Cottage Hospital | All information sent |
| The request sought statistics on Village Connect transport usage for Ramsey medical facilities and any policies regarding unarranged pickups. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed usage figures since the service's inception and confirmed there is no specific policy for unarranged pickups beyond standard procedures. | ||
| 2019-08-23 | Bus Vannin | All information sent |
| The requester asked for Bus Vannin's punctuality targets, on-time performance statistics, and complaint data for the last twelve months. The Department of Infrastructure provided a monthly breakdown of complaints and feedback types but did not disclose the specific punctuality targets or on-time performance statistics requested. | ||
| 2019-08-14 | Bus Vannin driver's pay. | All information sent |
| A request was made to identify the highest hourly rate paid to any person driving a bus for Bus Vannin in 2019. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the highest paid driver was the Chief Executive Officer, who drives occasionally without extra pay, resulting in a calculated hourly rate of £36.68 compared to a maximum of £20.03 for contracted drivers. | ||
| 2019-08-13 | Douglas Promenade Scheme extras bills | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of extra costs incurred and future costs for the Douglas Promenade Scheme, along with approval limits. The Department of Infrastructure responded that no extra costs have been incurred to date, the project is within budget, and future utility costs will be borne by Manx Utilities. | ||
| 2019-08-12 | Prom concdetr | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding the conclusions of an investigation into defective concrete. The authority responded that the investigation is still ongoing and no definitive answer is currently available. | ||
| 2019-08-06 | Promenade | All information sent |
| A request was made regarding delays, contract extensions, and expenditure for the Promenade project, to which the Department of Infrastructure disclosed reasons for the delay, clarified the NEC4 contract mechanism, and provided specific financial figures. | ||
| 2019-07-31 | RAF use of Ronaldsway | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for a written agreement between the Isle of Man Government and the RAF regarding Ronaldsway Airport training, as well as annual payment figures since 2011. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed no specific written agreement exists and refused to provide financial data due to the excessive burden of staff time required to compile it. | ||
| 2019-07-22 | Promenade concretr | All information sent |
| The requester asked about the cause, liability, volume, strength, and cost of cracked concrete on a promenade. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the cause is under investigation, liability is undetermined, and replacement costs are undefined, though they provided estimates for volume and concrete strength. | ||
| 2019-07-22 | Douglas Promenade Scheme - Surveying of Douglas Promenade | All information sent |
| The requester asked for reasons and costs regarding re-surveying under the Douglas Promenade carriageway. The Department of Infrastructure clarified that no under-carriageway re-surveying occurred, only standard topographical work, and stated that specific costs are held by the main contractor, not the Department. | ||
| 2019-07-22 | Coning and signage | All information sent |
| The requester asked for specific details on the purchase or rental costs of cones and signage for the Douglas Promenade repair. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the equipment was neither owned nor leased by the government, but supplied as part of a larger traffic management tender where individual costs are not separately indicated. | ||
| 2019-07-22 | Infrastructure/capital projects and due diligence | Request lapsed - requested information not provided |
| The requester asked about due diligence procedures for infrastructure subcontractors to ensure they are not under criminal investigation. The Department of Infrastructure responded that it does not conduct due diligence on domestic subcontractors, leaving this responsibility to the main contractor, provided the subcontractors are on the MACCS approved list. | ||
| 2019-07-16 | Dept staff employed on full time contracts | All information sent |
| The request sought staff numbers and annual salary costs for full-time, part-time, and zero-hour contracts at the Isle of Man Airport, including the fire service. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that there are 107 full-time and 6 part-time airport staff with no zero-hour contracts, alongside 31 full-time fire service staff, providing total salary costs of £6.7 million and £1.8 million respectively. | ||
| 2019-07-05 | Council House Income | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made to determine how many Isle of Man Council House tenants earn over £50,000 annually, but the Department of Infrastructure refused to provide this data as it does not hold current income information for all tenants. | ||
| 2019-07-03 | Prom cones and signage | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for the cost of coning and signage related to the Douglas Promenade repairs. The authority disclosed that the total cost for the ongoing traffic management resource, including these items, was £355,988.26. | ||
| 2019-07-01 | Wildlife killed at the airport | All information sent |
| The request sought details on wildlife culling at the Isle of Man Airport, including species, methods, and relocation figures for the last three years. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that culling is a regulatory requirement for aviation safety, involving shooting and trapping, with no veterinary involvement or relocation of animals. | ||
| 2019-06-26 | Connect Villages | All information sent |
| A request was made for booking statistics and driver employment details regarding the Isle of Man's Connect Villages and ConnectPorts services. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed journey counts, passenger numbers, free pass usage, and staffing arrangements, noting that the ConnectPorts service to the sea terminal had not yet launched. | ||
| 2019-06-21 | Impact of Promenade works | All information sent |
| The requester asked for documents detailing steps taken to assess alternative access, parking, and compensation for businesses affected by promenade works. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed all requested information, including a specific statutory order establishing an off-street parking place at Strathallan, Douglas. | ||
| 2019-06-17 | Horse Tram Costs | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request for a cost breakdown regarding the £700 loss incurred by the Horse Tram service during the 2019 TT period, disclosing a supplemental costing sheet and explaining operational constraints. | ||
| 2019-06-17 | Screening of Baggage Hall | All information sent |
| The request sought details on legislation, costs, and income regarding the screening of the Isle of Man airport baggage hall with advertisements. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed there is no specific legislation requiring the screening, costs were covered by the advertiser, and the annual income generated is £10,000. | ||
| 2019-05-28 | Hedge and verge trimming on A5 between Cooil roundabout and Ballasalla | All information sent |
| The requester asked for risk assessments and method statements regarding hedge trimming on the A5 to ensure minimal cutting and protection of wildlife. The Department of Infrastructure responded by providing the 'Manx Hedgerow Management Code of Best Practice' which outlines the rules for cutting dates and wildlife protection. | ||
| 2019-05-27 | Horse Tram Risk Assessment | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for risk assessments and correspondence regarding horse trams on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, specifically concerning conflicts with oncoming traffic. The Department of Infrastructure released some internal emails and risk assessment criteria, noting that the risk of oncoming vehicles was considered and mitigated through horse selection and training. | ||
| 2019-05-15 | Glyphosate Useage | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding the use of glyphosate-based herbicides in public areas like schools due to health concerns. The authority responded by disclosing a Safety Data Sheet for 'Barclay Gallup 360 SL', confirming the product contains glyphosate and is used for agricultural and horticultural purposes. | ||
| 2019-05-08 | Highway Services | All information sent |
| The requester asked if the 'Highway services' costs mentioned in a previous response referred to Department of Infrastructure staff. The authority clarified that these costs cover both internal and external designers within the Department's Design Team. | ||
| 2019-05-07 | Eviction noticed served since 2014, and reasons. | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number and grounds of eviction notices served by the Department of Infrastructure for housing properties since 2014. The authority disclosed a full breakdown of 'Notices to Quit' issued by the Coroner, categorized by 'Rent Arrears' and 'Other' reasons for each financial year from 2014-15 to 2018-19. | ||
| 2019-04-26 | Arrears of Rent | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for data on public sector housing rent arrears, write-offs, and evictions for the period ending March 2019. The authority disclosed specific figures for arrears and evictions but confirmed that no rent was written off during the specified timeframe. | ||
| 2019-04-26 | Cabbage | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for details on costs and operational status regarding IoM Railways' diesel locomotive 21, specifically focusing on engine and bogie repairs. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that engine work was covered by warranty while bogie repairs cost £58.8k, but withheld the specific value of the tender contract due to commercial sensitivity. | ||
| 2019-04-25 | Brown field site | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request for a list of properties owned within the Eastern Area Plan map, disclosing a comprehensive inventory of 5 pages across 2 documents. | ||
| 2019-04-18 | Promenade costs including all consultant fees paid to 31st March | All information sent |
| The request sought details on payments certified to Promenade contractors and fees paid to the Design Team. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the total payment amount to contractors and a breakdown of budget versus expenditure for various professional service providers. | ||
| 2019-04-18 | Aggregate and Tarmac costs | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the rates charged by the Department of Infrastructure for all types of aggregate and tarmac surfaces ex depot. The authority responded by sending the current price list and advising that prices fluctuate and can be confirmed by contacting the quarry directly. | ||
| 2019-04-17 | Mini Bus Expenditure | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the cost and quantity of minibuses purchased specifically for patient transport and demand-responsive services between April 2017 and April 2019. The Department of Infrastructure clarified that no vehicles were bought solely for these purposes but disclosed the costs and quantities of minibuses acquired during that period as part of general fleet replacement. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2019-04-03 | Rental usage of traffic cones by the Department of Infrastructure | All information sent |
| A request was made to determine if the Department of Infrastructure rents traffic cones from third parties, including details on suppliers, quantities, and costs. The department responded that it does not hire cones from any third party, as it purchases and retains its own stock. | ||
| 2019-04-02 | Bus Annual Inspections | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the dates of annual roadworthiness inspections for all passenger-carrying vehicles conducted by the Vehicle Test Centre in the last 12 months. The Department of Infrastructure responded by sending the requested data, noting that dates represent the week commencing and that most tests occurred on Fridays. | ||
| 2019-03-29 | Number of PSV driving tests | All information sent |
| The requester asked for statistics on PSV driving tests conducted between 2017 and 2018, and the Department of Infrastructure provided the total number of tests taken and passed for both Category D and D1 vehicles. | ||
| 2019-03-11 | Trains | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for the condition of government-owned steam and diesel trains and expenditure data since January 2016. The Department of Infrastructure provided a status list for 24 engines but refused the expenditure request because the data is not held in a separated format and would require substantial compilation. | ||
| 2019-03-07 | Payments made for Prom | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for the certified payment amount to the Promenade Contractor as of the last valuation. The authority disclosed the gross certified amount, retention deduction, and an allowance for early contractor involvement totaling £661,812.19. | ||
| 2019-03-04 | Resurfacing Ballavitchel Rd | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for the cost of relaying the tarmac surface on Ballavitchel Road. The authority disclosed the total cost, including labour and materials, and confirmed the request was fully answered. | ||
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