An application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) from the person named was received in my Department on 7th December 2012. The Terms and Conditions of the AEOS 3 Scheme preclude participants active in the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Farm Plan Scheme in 2013 from eligibility for AEOS. During the pre-approval validation checks, a cross check was carried out against the NPWS database and it was found that the person named was a participant in that Scheme. As a result of this the application was unsuccessful. On 10th June 2013, a letter issued to the person named informing him of this and giving him the option of appeal to the Department. An appeal was received from the person named and a letter has issued upholding the original decision and giving the right of appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office.