I created a [XamarinFormsIoT] Windows Core IoT project which can control LEDs and play sounds on a Raspberry PI 3 using C#/XAML. I used a portable dependency interface to expose the GPIO controller which only exists in the UWP project. GPIO is used to control the LEDs. I also ordered an IR receiver so I can detect IR signals from a remote and it works!
Next I need to [find] a UWP library for LIRC.
The [Arduino-IRremote] has a C++ library that can be converted to UWP.
I followed the idea from the video below.
[How to Control the GPIO on a Raspberry Pi with an IR Remote]
Adafruit: [IR (Infrared) Receiver Sensor]
[Raspberry Pis, Remotes & IR Receivers!]
[Play wav file in Raspberry PI with Windows IoT Core]