Gardaí in Waterford have among the highest crime detection rates in the State, according to figures contained in the report.
The percentage of what the report refers to as "headline offences" detected in Waterford in 2000 was 68 per cent, far higher than in any other region or city.
Headline offences include murders, violent assaults, larcenies, burglaries and robberies.
The crime detection rates are lowest in Limerick at 34 per cent.
In the other main cities detection rates are recorded as: Cork 52 per cent and Galway 35 per cent.
For the Dublin Metropolitan Region, the detection rate was 39 per cent.
The report, which differs in format this year following the introduction of the new Garda computer system called PULSE - which incidentally delayed the report's release because of technical difficulties - categorises offences as "headline offences" and "non-headline offences".
Yesterday the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, claimed the report showed a 9.8 per cent drop in the level of serious crime recorded in 2000 compared to 1999.
A statement said he "gleaned" this by comparing the figure for headline offences with those for indictable offences in previous years.
Some 73,276 headline offences were reported to the Garda in 2000 compared with 81,274 indictable offences in 1999.
However, the report stresses that the new and older categories of crime are not comparable.
Meanwhile, the report reveals that a total of 163 new cases were reported in 2000 to the Garda's internal affairs section, which deals with breaches of discipline by members of the force.
Sworn inquiries were held in 14 instances to determine whether there had been any breach of discipline.
The inquiries resulted in seven gardaí being found in breach of the Garda code, one was found not to have breached it and in six cases the inquiries have not concluded.
"Four members resigned involuntarily from An Garda Síochána during the year, and one member was reduced in rank."
Some 17 others were dealt with by way of caution, while 39 had fines imposed on them. A total of six gardaí were suspended during the year, which means the number now on suspension stands at 15.
Also during 2000 the Criminal Assets Bureau initiated 14 new applications to freeze the proceeds of crime. The value of property frozen was in excess of £3 million.
The bureau also took revenue tax actions against a number of individuals, resulting in taxes in the region of £9.7 million being assessed and £6.7 million being collected.