Taoiseach Enda Kenny has denied that budget cuts had anything to do with the escape of a prisoner at Tallaght Hospital in Dublin yesterday.

Derek Brockwell was at a medical appointment when he stabbed the two prison officers who were escorting him and fled the scene.

He was serving a seven-year term for armed robbery in Portlaoise Prison.

Gardaí are liaising with the PSNI and UK police forces in a bid to find him.

The Prison Officers Association have questioned why an armed guard was not present.

Speaking in the Dáil, Enda Kenny has denied that the incident has anything to do with budget cutbacks.

"The first point that you mentioned in respect of a prisoner - that's not based on cutbacks," he said.

"These matters are reviewed on a regular basis, between the gardaí and the prison officers, and, as I say, the Minister for Justice has asked for a full report on that obviously we'll follow through on that report."