THE Department of Infrastructure has no obligation to carry out inspections of roads and pavements - even though it has a duty to maintain highways.

Claire Bettison (Douglas East) raised the anomaly in Tynwald.

She asked: ’Why does the government’s insurer reply to people, when making a claim regarding damage to roads, or damage to vehicles as a result of damage to roads, stating, "We must take this opportunity to point out the Isle of Man Government are not required to carry out inspections of the highways or of pavements."’

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer confirmed the letter was correct.

He said: ’There is no statutory obligation on the department to inspect highways, but it does have a duty to maintain every highway, which is maintainable at public expense.

’The department does, however, carry out routine inspections of the highway network on a risk-based approach as best practice.’

David Ashford (Douglas North) also queried the situation and said the two obligations should go ’hand in hand’.

He asked: ’Would the minister be willing to look at what the department is and should be doing and what the statutory provision should be?’

Mr Harmer responded: ’I would certainly give it consideration but, as you know and as everyone in this court will know, I am passionate about maintaining our highways.’

A winter survey revealed 545 improvements required to ’safety-critical’ road markings such as give-way lines. Mr Harmer said 384 of those had now been addressed and work was ’progressing apace’. Non safety-critical markings would be dealt with ’when resources allow’.