53. (1) Each of the following institutions of higher education shall be a designated institution of higher education for the purposes of this Act (in this Act referred to as a “designated institution of higher education”):

(a) each of the following institutions of higher education shall, by virtue of this section, be regarded as so designated:

(i) an established university;

(ii) an educational institution established as a university under section 9 of the Act of 1997;

(iii) a technological university within the meaning of the Act of 2018;

(iv) a college to which the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 apply;

(v) the National College of Art and Design;

(vi) an education provider which is an authorised provider within the meaning of sections 54 to 57 of the Act of 1997;

(b) such other higher education providers in respect of which a designation order under Chapter 2 of this Part is in force.

(2) In this section, “established university” means—

(a) a constituent university within the meaning of section 3 of the Act of 1997,

(b) Dublin City University established by section 2 of the Dublin City University Act 1989,

(c) Trinity College, Dublin, within the meaning of section 3 of the Act of 1997,

(d) the University of Limerick established by section 2 of the University of Limerick Act 1989.