Dublin Port Recognised for Outstanding Social Impact at ESG Awards
15 April 2025
Dublin Port Company has been honoured with the Business & Finance ESG Award for Social Impact (SME) at this year’s ESG Awards, recognising its significant contributions to local communities and ongoing commitment to creating a lasting positive social impact.
The award celebrates Dublin Port’s diverse community initiatives, which include long-term support for local schools, sports clubs, and community groups, as well as substantial investments in public amenity that open the port to the wider public.
Dublin Port has a deep-rooted connection to its neighbouring communities—many of whom have generational ties to the port—and this recognition reflects decades of partnership, respect, and shared history.
The ESG Awards submission highlighted four key initiatives that showcase the Port’s commitment to community:
- The Dublin Port Greenway
Spanning 2.2km of uninterrupted walking and cycling paths with scenic views across Clontarf, the Greenway has welcomed nearly 50,000 visitors in its first five months. It opens up previously inaccessible parts of the Port, allowing the public to connect with the Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere while integrating with the EuroVelo cycling network and offering a unique ferry-cycling link into Ireland. - The Dublin Construction Skills and Retrofitting Programme
Delivered in collaboration with St. Andrew’s Resource Centre and the Inner-City Renewal Group, this intensive 3–5 week course is based at Dublin Port and equips unemployed and long-term unemployed individuals with vital construction skills. The programme is already delivering powerful, life-changing results for participants from the local community. - The Dublin Port Scholarship
Supporting up to 30 students per year since 2001, this programme offers €1,000 annually for four years to students from surrounding communities facing barriers to third-level education. With over €1.4 million awarded to date, many scholarship recipients are the first in their families to attend university—crediting the support from Dublin Port as a crucial factor in their academic and professional success. - Digital Education Investment at St Joseph’s Primary School
In late 2024, Dublin Port invested €140,000 through its MP2 Community Gain Fund to provide state-of-the-art digital whiteboards for every classroom at St Joseph’s Primary School. This investment is helping to bridge the digital divide and enhance the learning experience for students from the docklands area.
The award recognises underscores the importance of maintaining and deepening relationships with local communities as the Port continues to evolve through its Masterplan 2040 projects.
Edel Currie, Community Engagement Manager, commented:
“We are incredibly proud of our strong connections with our communities, and to be recognised at the Business & Finance ESG Awards is a great honour. Being a good neighbour is fundamental to our social license—it’s about ensuring communities see and feel the benefits of living alongside Ireland’s busiest port.”
“Seeing the real, tangible impact of our programmes on students, sports clubs, and community members is deeply rewarding. As we move forward with major developments, we remain committed to growing our social contributions.”
“I’d also like to thank the tireless volunteers who lead the clubs and groups we support. Their dedication makes our work meaningful. This award belongs as much to them as it does to us.”
Dublin Port Company was also shortlisted for the Excellence in Biodiversity category the ESG Awards for its work with UCD on restoring marine habitats and providing safe habitats for birdlife in the Port.