The funding was announced as part of the Budget for 2011-15.
In his budget statement, the finance minister, Sammy Wilson, said that £3m per year would be directed towards a childcare strategy over the next four years.
There is still no date for the childcare strategy, although Mr Wilson said that it would be developed on a cross-departmental basis 'over the course of the next administration'.
Siobhan Fitzpatrick, chief executive of the organisation Early Years, called the funding 'a very good start, given the economic environment', and said she hoped that in future there would be a joined-up childcare and early education strategy.
Currently early years policy is spread across several different government departments.
Ms Fitzpatrick said, 'We're calling for an Education and Childcare Act so that there would be a legislative footing for early education and care.'
Bridget Nodder, director of the Northern Ireland Childminding Association, said, 'The Executive has long promised a childcare strategy and we had been disappointed at the lack of swift progress on developing that document. But we approach the next four years with much more confidence, knowing the resources have now been allocated which can allow immediate action to be taken on childcare.'
Mr Wilson also made a specific commitment to help provide startup packages for childminders.
The scheme would give childminders one-to-one support during registration and their first year in business.
NICMA is running a programme to tackle the shortage of childcare places in rural areas, funded by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's Rural Childcare Programme, which has been completed by 135 people registering as childminders.
The pilot scheme has highlighted the importance of high quality training and support, according to Ms Nodder. She said, 'If that is in place, the drop-out rate is likely to be much lower.'
'We hope these lessons will be taken into account when the Executive develops its childcare strategy.'
