#2015ESPOaward - Dublin Port has been awarded the 2015 ESPO Award on Societal Integration of Ports in recognition of its strategies in making schools and universities aware of their local port and its activities. The award was presented last night at a ceremony held in Brussels.

In 2009 the award was established to promote innovative projects of port authorities that improve societal integration of ports, especially with the city and wider community in which they are located.

The theme of this year’s ESPO Award was Engagement with local schools and universities. Dublin Port Company won the 2015 Award for its project, Port Communities Educational Support Programme, which helps increase employment options within the disadvantaged communities that provided the port’s workforce in the past.

The programme includes Early Learning Initiatives, Technology in schools, Scholarships Programme and support to sport teams. The educational programme is a response to when port communities in Dublin have been impoverished by the great reduction in employment opportunities caused by the industrialisation of cargo handling beginning in the 1960’s with the growth of unitised freight.

Eamonn O'Reilly, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company said "We are delighted in Dublin Port to have our efforts engaging with local schools and universities recognised by ESPO. The ESPO Award is a prestigious recognition by our peers in the port industry across Europe of our efforts in Dublin to achieve a greater unity between the port, the city and local communities through the medium of education. I have always been impressed by the quality and the number of submissions for the ESPO awards and for Dublin to be recognised this year is a tremendous endorsement."

The Chief Executive added "It is also a great motivator for us to continue to work more generally to achieve the objectives of ESPO's Code of Practice on Societal Integration of Ports.To win the ESPO Award 2015 is very much a case of primus inter pares."