This section provides the Department with a power to introduce a community service scheme, having first consulted with the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. Under such a scheme a person released early from prison under the terms of the Conditional Early Release Scheme (as provided for by Article 19 of the Criminal Justice (NI) Order 2008) may be required to engage in unpaid community service from the time of their early release up until the time they were originally due to be released.