alexandra - what year did you buy your property? Because the ceiling amount you can get relief on changes after 7 years - so that is what might have happened.
I bought in 2005 - so this year my ceiliing as a couple has gone from 20K down to 6K (if single 10K down to 3K). This means now that even thought they increased my relief from 25 to 30% it is now only on up to 6K of interest.
So this year my relief has halved - last year I paid approx. €15K in interest and because I could claim 25% on up to €20K it meant I could get 25% relief on the full 15K - so €3,750 per year relief or €312.50 per month relief.
Now because I own my house 7 years my relief ceiling amount has reduced to €6,000, but the % has increased to 30% - so 30% relief on the first 6K of interest I pay - meaning the max I can claim is now is €1800 per year or €150 per month.
So although it sounded in the budget my allowance was going up from 25% to 30% - the total amount I could claim was reducing!!! My TRS has now halved.
So I assume if you bought in 2005 and are single? Then you can now claim 30% relief on up to €3,000 - so €900 per year or 75 per month.
PTSB however have not yet updated their systems to change the 25% to 30% - so at the moment everyone is only getting 25% relief - so €62.50 per person per month. They have said it will be something like April before their system is updated and you will then be reimbursted the 5% difference for the months you paid at 25% instead of 30%.
So if you are single mortgage holder and bought in 2005 €62.50 for now is the right amount - this will change to €75 once their systems are updated.
I am really annoyed at how the government plugged this in the budget as if they were doing people a favour who bought in the boom! If they were then they would have increased the ceiling limit!!