Local Authority FOI's submitted through DOI portal.

Summary

The requester asked for a list of FOI request volumes, reference numbers, and subject titles submitted to local authorities via the Department of Infrastructure portal between March 2025 and February 2026. The Department of Infrastructure responded that it does not hold this information because it only provides technical support for the portal, while local authorities act as the data controllers.

Key Facts

• The Department of Infrastructure hosts and technically administers the FOI portal but does not access or retain request content.
• Each Local Authority remains the data controller for information submitted through the portal.
• A Data Processing Agreement limits the Department's role to technical support and routing requests.
• The Department cannot provide request volumes, reference numbers, or subject titles as accessing them would breach data protection obligations.
• Requesters are advised to contact the respective Local Authorities directly for this information.

Data Disclosed

• 5318813
• 1 March 2025
• 18 February 2026
• 13 March 2026
• 2026-03-16
• 2026-02-18
• 3
• 1
• (01624) 686785
• IM1 2RF

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held
• Data protection obligations
• Role limited to technical support under Data Processing Agreement

Original Request

I am requesting information regarding Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted to local authorities via the central Isle of Man Government portal for the period of 1 March 2025 to the date of this request. Specifically, I am requesting: A list or table showing the total volume of FOI requests received by each individual local authority (as listed in the portal) during this period and any allocated reference number. The subject title of each FOI request submitted, grouped by the name of the relevant local authority. I don not require any personal data of the requesters or any information that may potentially identify the requester. My aim is to understand the volume of information being requested from local authorities and topics, as this data is not currently published on a central disclosure log. The portal to which I refer is here which states it is a DOI portal: https://foi-request-local-authorities.powerappsportals.com/FOI-Request-Local-Authorities/

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 5318813 13 March 2026

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 18 February 2026, which states:

"I am requesting information regarding Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted to local authorities via the central Isle of Man Government portal for the period of 1 March 2025 to the date of this request.

Specifically, I am requesting:

A list or table showing the total volume of FOI requests received by each individual local authority (as listed in the portal) during this period and any allocated reference number.

The subject title of each FOI request submitted, grouped by the name of the relevant local authority.

I don not require any personal data of the requesters or any information that may potentially identify the requester.

My aim is to understand the volume of information being requested from local authorities and topics, as this data is not currently published on a central disclosure log.

The portal to which I refer is here which states it is a DOI portal:

https://foi-request-local-authorities.powerappsportals.com/FOI-Request-Local- Authorities/"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

However, you may wish to contact the respective Local Authorities, who may hold the information you are seeking. who may be able to help you.

The Department of Infrastructure hosts and technically administers the online portal referenced in your request. However, each Local Authority remains the data controller for the information submitted through the portal.

The Department has a Data Processing Agreement in place with each Local Authority which limits the Department's role to providing technical support and maintaining the functionality of the system, including ensuring that requests are routed to the appropriate Local Authority email address.

In accordance with these arrangements, the Department does not access, monitor, or retain the content of requests submitted to Local Authorities, including request reference numbers or subject titles. Accessing such information would be outside the scope of the Department's role and could breach data protection obligations.

As a result, the Department does not hold the information you have requested, including:

• The volume of FOI requests received by each Local Authority through the portal;
• Any reference numbers associated with those requests;
• The subject titles of requests submitted to each Local Authority.

Please quote the reference number 5318813 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another

form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.