Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

I request the following information / documents under the Freedom of Information Act 2014. 19- 10-25. I request sight of the files containing the financial accounts pertaining to the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, the Irish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and Irish Aid that relate to the Life Home Project on Phuket for the years 2010 – 2017. I refer to the supposedly lack of documentary evidence pertaining to the allocation and disbursement, of the €100,000 donation made to the Life Home Project on Phuket, by Irish Aid. Conor Lenihan, Minister of State in his correspondence of the 20-05-05 to Ambassador Dan Mulhall, reference BAP/NGO/THAI/2005/04, stipulated that all agencies in receipt of funding under the Irish Aid - NGO Co-Financing Scheme, in this instance, referring to Helene Fallon Wood, the Life Home Project fundraising coordinator, as she being wholly responsible, for administering and accounting for the €100,000 NGO Co-Financing Scheme donation and her obligation to provide ongoing appraisals apropos the distribution of said funds during the construction and on the completion of the Life Home building project. Under the Freedom of Information ACT 2014 please furnish the files that provide the following information relating to this donation of €100K to the Life Home Project on Phuket, Thailand: A65) I request, as clearly prescribed by the Minister for State, sight of the files containing the aforementioned construction appraisals, regularly furnished by Helene Fallon Wood. That is from the commencement of construction to the certified completion. I refer to the €100,000 NGO Co- Financing Scheme donation. To clarify I request copies of all construction progress reports forwarded to the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade along with all written and electronic communications from the Life Home Project management team. A66) Reference the Life Home Project, Phuket I request sight of the files that contain: A) The original and any subsequent funding proposals submitted by the Life Home Project Phuket to Irish Aid. B) The amount requested and finally approved, C) The necessary planning permission application and building approval certificates. D) The acknowledgments for all financial disbursements received by the Life Home Project amounting to €100,000 The architectural certification that the work was carried out in accordance with all building and zoning codes.. A67) I request sight of the files confirming that all payments amounting to €100K transferred directly into a bank account in the name of the Life Home Project? A68) I request sight of the files detailing how: A) The sum of €100K was decided upon and by who? B) The names of the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade & Irish Aid, officials who advocated for and approved this donation of €100K C) The documentation furnished by the Life Home Project to support the request and receipt for this sum of €100K? A69) I request sight of the files detailing additional donations or payments made to the Life Home Project by the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade – Irish Aid from 2004 to 2018? including contributions made for fund raising activities. A70) I request sight of the file comprising the signed ‘Contract’ forwarded to Ms. Tracy Thompson, Civil Society Development Cooperation Ireland by Ms. Helene Fallon Wood on behalf of the Life Home Project. A71) I request sight of the files containing all proforma construction estimates tendered by the Life Home Project prior to the Irish Aid donation of €100K and the name of the Contractor and the company that carried out the construction work to include copies of all cheques made payable to and cashed by either the Life Home Project or the contractor and sub-contractors. A72) I request sight of the file containing a copy of the final signing off by the Contractor, the Life Home Project administrators and the appointed architect on completion of the construction. A73) I request sight of the files containing the architectural drawings submitted to the Phuket Provincial Land Office, by the Life Home Project and the certified approval from the Land Office. Also requested is a copy of the planning and construction approval issued by the Phuket Land Office AND the adjusted Title Deed (CHANOTE). A74) I request sight of the files that contain the A) approval B) validation and C) the signing off, for the disbursement of the €100K by Irish Aid to the Life Home Project that is: The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Public Accounts Committee. The Comptroller and Auditor General. The Audit Committee. F) Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. A75) I request sight of the file detailing the due diligence investigations carried out by the DFA & Trade - Irish Aid on the directors of the Life Home Project, prior to this donation of €100K. A76) I request sight of the file containing the audited approval from the Controller & Auditor General regarding the donation of €100K to the Life Home Project and his assurance that public these funds were properly managed and disbursed to good effect. A77) I request sight of the file verifying that the Life Home Project is a registered Thai charity?