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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-02-13 | Bus vannin mini buses | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2019-02-12 | Parking Tickets - upheld queries | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for copies of upheld parking disc queries from 2014 to 2018, but the Department of Infrastructure could only provide data from January 2018 onwards due to a 12-month retention policy. The authority disclosed statistics on cancelled penalties and attached redacted correspondence for the available period. | ||
| 2019-01-28 | Recent works on main road in Ballabeg at junction with Friary Park | All information sent |
| 2019-01-08 | road inspection for A36 | All information sent |
| The requester asked for annual road inspection reports and repair details for the A36 near Ballakillowey between 2010 and 2018. The Department of Infrastructure provided all requested information, extending the data back to 2010 despite the legal requirement starting in 2011, while redacting third-party personal names. | ||
| 2019-01-07 | Highway Defects - Castletown Pedestrian Zone | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for statistics on highway defects and road openings in the Castletown Pedestrian Zone since 2012, along with details on reinstatement inspections. The authority disclosed that 41 defects were reported, 27 road openings were authorized, and outlined the inspection procedures used to ensure paving standards. | ||
| 2019-01-04 | Information Relating to the Queens Pier Ramsey | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for historical drawings of Queens Pier Ramsey and recent structural inspection reports; the Department of Infrastructure provided a list of 35 historical drawings but confirmed they do not hold the requested inspection reports from 2011 onwards. | ||
| 2019-01-04 | Flight cancellations and delays | Information not held |
| A request was made for 2018 flight cancellation and delay statistics from Ronaldsway Airport, but the Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held. | ||
| 2019-01-03 | HPAS | All information sent |
| The request sought the number of properties purchased in the last 12 months under the current House Purchase Assistance Scheme (HPAS) replacements. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that 30 properties were purchased between December 2017 and December 2018 under the two active schemes. | ||
| 2019-01-03 | Charging for Government Car Parking Spaces | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for detailed statistics and enforcement data regarding the charging policy for government car parking spaces in Central Douglas. The Department of Infrastructure responded by providing a list of specific car parks managed under the scheme but withheld the requested numerical data on exemptions, revenue, and enforcement checks. | ||
| 2018-12-28 | vehicle count and average speed cables | Request lapsed - requested information not provided |
| The requester asked for policies, installation dates, locations, and raw anonymous data regarding temporary vehicle count and average speed cables in Douglas and surrounding routes. The Department of Infrastructure refused to provide the raw data or create new compilations, citing practical refusal and exemptions against creating information, though they provided existing documents. | ||
| 2018-12-17 | Waste charges | All information sent |
| The request sought details on outstanding waste disposal charges at Sita categorized by age and actions taken to recover debts over six months. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed specific monetary amounts owed across different timeframes and explained that recovery actions include bankruptcy write-offs, payment arrangements, and ongoing dialogue with customers. | ||
| 2018-11-27 | Department expenditure on coal | All information sent |
| The request sought annual expenditure and quantity data for coal and peat since 2011, but the Department of Infrastructure could only provide cost figures as volume records were not maintained. The response disclosed financial spending for the Isle of Man steam railway and specific purchase details for coke used by the Blacksmiths Section. | ||
| 2018-11-20 | DoI fuel pump(s) | All information sent |
| 2018-11-19 | Waste Charges | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the value of outstanding waste charges for the main incinerator at the Energy from Waste Plant as of November 1st. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the outstanding amount as of October 31st was £432,859.72, noting this figure includes payments due 31 days or more. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2018-11-07 | Lord Street | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for data on residents, maintenance costs, complaints, and future plans for the Lord Street flats, resulting in a partial disclosure containing correspondence about new social housing developments rather than the specific statistics requested. | ||
| 2018-11-07 | Lease of the Swiss House - Glen Helen | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the head lease and sub-leases of the Swiss House at Glen Helen, specifically seeking renewal, extension, break, and re-tendering clauses. The Department of Infrastructure provided the main lease, confirmed no sub-leases exist, and stated that only a break clause was present while other requested terms were absent. | ||
| 2018-10-31 | SAVE Programme | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for plans of projects identified through the SAVE programme, but the Department of Infrastructure refused to provide them, citing that the information is already reasonably accessible via public links. | ||
| 2018-10-26 | Peel marina | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2018-10-24 | House purchase scheme | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on businesses operating from properties under the House Purchase Assistance Scheme, including permission status and registration details. The Department of Infrastructure responded that it does not hold the specific data requested and cannot compile it without creating new information. | ||
| 2018-10-15 | DoI procurement policy | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for documentation regarding a mandatory MACCS accreditation agreement for Department of Infrastructure contractors. The authority responded by providing the 'Procedure Notes for Management of Construction Projects' (April 2012) but stated that not all requested information was held. | ||
| 2018-10-02 | Parking Permits at Airport | All information sent |
| A request was made for details on Isle of Man Airport staff parking permits, including breakdowns by employer type, usage policies, and lease costs. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the total number of permits, the split between government and contractor staff, the lack of a written policy for off-hours use, and the specific annual charges for leasing bays. | ||
| 2018-10-01 | The Prom | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding the disposal location and transport route for bulk excavation from 'The Prom' project. The authority confirmed that all requested information was sent to the applicant on the same day the request was received. | ||
| 2018-09-19 | Democratic representation | Information not held |
| The requester asked about unspoken policies protecting government staff accused of criminality and the procedure for whistleblowing. The Department of Infrastructure stated it does not hold information on unspoken policies as they are not valid FOI requests, but provided a link to the official government whistleblowing policy. | ||
| 2018-09-13 | MVR4 Duplicate Registration Certificate missue | Not required to fulfill request |
| The requester asked for statistics on duplicate vehicle registration certificates issued to incorrect addresses or without signatures between 2016 and 2018 due to suspected fraud. The Department of Infrastructure refused the request, stating that manually compiling the data from 85,000 transactions would exceed the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2015. | ||
| 2018-09-10 | Road closures: Abbeylands | All information sent |
| The request sought dates and Road Closure Orders for Abbeylands crossroads closures due to rally events between August 2016 and September 2018. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed all requested information, providing the full text of the Rally IOM Road Races Order 2016. | ||
| 2018-08-31 | Bus Vannin - patient transfer contract with DHSC | Information not held |
| The requester asked for detailed capital and revenue costs associated with Bus Vannin's non-emergency patient transfer contract with the Department of Health and Social Security. The Department of Infrastructure responded that specific cost breakdowns were not held because no new capital expenditure was incurred and the service was in its early stages of operation. | ||
| 2018-08-20 | Private street works - Maine Road, Port Erin | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for details on resident surveys regarding the adoption of Maine Road in Port Erin over the last seven years. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that one survey occurred in July 2015 with 67% agreement, but withheld specific personal data regarding the number of residents under data protection exemptions. | ||
| 2018-08-13 | Mountain Road | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for Mountain Road closure data over the past 24 months, to which the Department of Infrastructure responded with a partial list of closures they recorded, noting that emergency closures by the Police were not held. | ||
| 2018-08-06 | Communications | All information sent |
| A request was made for the Department of Infrastructure's National Infrastructure Plan, and the authority disclosed the full 54-page National Infrastructure Strategy document dated May 2017. | ||
| 2018-07-30 | vehicle search | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the Department of Infrastructure's vehicle and passenger search procedures at the port, but no information was disclosed. | ||
| 2018-07-30 | Vehicle damage in incidents | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of Department of Infrastructure operational vehicles damaged in 2018 requiring external repairs or insurance claims. The authority disclosed that 20 accidents were reported, with 8 requiring external body shop repairs. | ||
| 2018-07-30 | Flight cancellations | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on flight cancellations and delays to London City, Liverpool, and Manchester in 2018. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the information is not held because they only record aircraft movements that actually touch the runway, not cancellations. | ||
| 2018-07-27 | Energy From Waste Plant Contract | Request lapsed - requested information not provided |
| A request was made for the full contract details of the Isle of Man's Energy From Waste Plant, citing a previous Information Commissioner decision on commercial information disclosure. The request lapsed without the information being provided, though the response included a 403-page conformed copy of the Project Agreement dated July 2016. | ||
| 2018-07-26 | Rally IOM | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought the conditions imposed by the Department of Infrastructure on Rally IOM, resulting in the disclosure of a letter outlining safety and leadership requirements, though some personal data was withheld under exemption. | ||
| 2018-07-23 | Rally Isle of Man - DOI | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought documented evidence regarding safety incidents and management concerns for the Rally Isle of Man between 2013 and 2017, as referenced in an email by Jeff Robinson. The Department of Infrastructure provided partial information, including a 2013 email detailing signage failures and a 2015 debrief meeting record, while withholding other requested documents. | ||
| 2018-07-20 | Changing facilities | Information not held |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of government properties with showers, changing facilities, and cycle storage, as well as plans to introduce these in central Douglas. The Department of Infrastructure responded that it does not hold this information because its property lists do not track specific amenities and there are no recorded plans for new facilities. | ||
| 2018-07-16 | Registration numbers sold by IOM Government | Not required to fulfill request |
| The requester asked for statistics on car registration numbers sold by the Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure under variable rates, including pre-system data. The authority refused the request, stating that compiling the data would require substantial manual work and that information prior to October 2011 is not held in a retrievable format. | ||
| 2018-07-02 | Closure(s) of Public Right of Way 603 (The Clarum path) | All information sent |
| The requester asked the Department of Infrastructure for details on closures of Public Right of Way 603 (The Clarum path) within the three years ending 1 July 2018. The authority confirmed there were four closures during this period and provided the specific dates, types, and reasons for each. | ||
| 2018-05-30 | TT Signage | Request lapsed - requested information not provided |
| 2018-05-29 | Airport | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for passenger figures, scheduled flight counts, and airline operators for the Isle of Man airport over the past five years. The Department of Infrastructure provided passenger statistics and a list of airlines but clarified that specific data on scheduled flights is not held, only actual runway activity. | ||
| 2018-05-29 | Caravan permits associated with the TT funfair | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked about caravan permits for the TT funfair since 2015 and the status of the Summerland plot. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed that no specific permits were issued for funfair caravans despite them meeting criteria, and clarified that Summerland is not a designated campsite but is used under conditional permission. | ||
| 2018-05-21 | Shoprite Car Park Ramsey | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding responsibility, reporting, and repair statistics for potholes in the Shoprite car park in Ramsey. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information and advised the requester to contact Ramsey Town Commissioners instead. | ||
| 2018-05-10 | Professional fees Prom | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for details on consultants and fees for the new prom scheme, to which the Department of Infrastructure disclosed names, roles, and fee amounts for five consultants, but noted the lead contractor is unknown as the project is out to tender. | ||
| 2018-05-01 | Site G Knock Rushen Castletown | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought all information regarding Site G (Knock Rushen) in Castletown, which was partially fulfilled with documents from Highway Services and Network Planning. The disclosed materials include an email and meeting notes confirming the site's developability for approximately 60 dwellings and outlining required highway access arrangements. | ||
| 2018-04-30 | Why was the mountain road closed: Tue, 10 Apr 2018 | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2018-04-27 | Expenditure on single use plastics within the department | Not required to fulfill request |
| A request was made for expenditure figures on single-use plastics within the Department of Infrastructure, but the authority refused to fulfill it because the data is not recorded individually and would require substantial compilation. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2018-04-16 | Extinguished highways, footpaths or rights of way | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for documents regarding public highway, footpath, or right of way extinguishment cases voted against by Tynwald in the last twenty years. The Department of Infrastructure refused to send the documents, citing that the information is already reasonably accessible via the Tynwald Hansard website. | ||
| 2018-04-13 | Sheltered Accommodation | Information not held |
| The requester asked for statistics on individuals under 65 living in sheltered accommodation on the Isle of Man, but the Department of Infrastructure responded that they do not hold this information as they do not manage such housing. | ||
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